Hard Work and Integrity as Prerequisites for Success

Hard work is shown as being a necessary prerequisite for success, and the fates of numerous characters show that integrity and hard work can help a person overcome a difficult start in life. This theme is most clearly represented through the character of Lucky. He was born into extremely impoverished conditions, and his move to America was dangerous as was his first job in America. Still, he worked hard and gained a progressively stronger reputation. This was not an easy feat as many in America judged him negatively because of his Chinese ancestry and did not actually want to respect him. His hard work and honesty afforded him a good job with the Phillips family and ultimately garnered him his safety when he went back to clear his name. This proved unnecessary as his reputation ensured that the Phillips...