People are like trees; as they grow, they encounter obstacles and hardships. Every season brings new difficulties that a tree has to endure and conquer. Just as a tree has to stay strong through the winter, people have to persevere through their life struggles. As we grow up, we do not live perfect, painless lives. We have to fight the battles that come to us in order to grow our roots and become the person that we are. In the novel, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Betty Smith demonstrates, through all of her characters, that perseverance through hardships can bring you success and strength. To begin with, Betty Smith uses her main character, Francie Nolan, to demonstrate that working through the struggles in life can help one become more…show more content… Everyone goes through seasons of drought in which they struggle and it seems that life is hopeless. Katie Romley married Johnny Nolan when she was young and in love. However, as time wore on, Johnny was not the perfect husband that she thought she had married. He was a singer and performer, but much of his income was spent on alcohol and Katie had to work herself in order to be able to provide for her family. The author said that “Everyone said it was a pity that a slight pretty woman like Katie Nolan had to go out scrubbing floors. But what else could she do considering the husband she had”(Smith 12). By noting that even other people were noticing the fact that Katie had to work, the author implies that everyone felt pity for her and realized that she had a tough life and that her husband did not provide enough. Smith tells the reader how, in order to be able to provide for her family, Katie Nolan had to put her values aside and start doing what was needed, work. Sometimes, life starts out great but takes a turn for the worst in a time of struggle. Katie had to accept that fact and persevere in order to support her