Concern for the Poor

The overriding theme of the book is concern for the poor. Yunus is raised in a middle class family that does have to worry about starvation. His father owns a jewelry shop so they always have enough to eat. Yunus learns compassion for the poor from his mother. She always puts away money to help those in need.

When Yunus is teaching, he sees the village of Jobra which is located outside the school grounds. There are unused fields during a time of starvation. He becomes interested in the village and the problems and he and his students begin to work with the villagers. He sees the abject poverty of the people and wonders how to help them. He finds that they are kept in the cycle of poverty by having to do business with middlemen. They cannot afford to buy the raw materials they...