Roman Fever while being out too late, the symbol of her death is that when Winterbourne finally gave up on her he took her life. An ending similar to Crane’s Maggie, although Maggie takes her own life to escape the harsh existence that she has come to know.Maggie: A Girl of the Streets is set deep in the slums of early America. Although none of the characters spoke much better than the others, there is some minute difference of class. The story starts with a fight between street “urchins” (793) fighting for the “honor of Rum Alley”. With this type of introduction, we get the impression of a very harsh environment. This is especially true when we realize that the bystanders are not going to do anything to help the battered and blood soaked little boy, Jimmie.The family life of Jimmie then draws us into this particular society. He was at first saved by the suave Pete, a sixteen year-old boy who approached “swinging his shoulders in a manner which noted that he held victory in his fists” (793). Then, after the fight was over, Jimmie’s dad comes to collect him, Jimmie cursing his father for embarrassing him in front of everyone. As they approach their home, “a small ragged girl dragged a red, bawling infant along the crowded ways” (795). In this small ragged girl, we meet Maggie—the good. She is seen here worrying over her ungrateful brother for getting into yet another fight for which “it’s like we’ll all get a poundin’ (795), from their mother. Maggie’s mother proved to be an abusive, alcoholic shrew that was “allus poundin’ a kid” according to the father. The members of Maggie’s family are a classic case of gutter rats of the slums of the world. However, Maggie manages to live this life without having her soul corrupted.In later years, Jimmie brings Pete over to their house and Maggie who had “blossom...
