A Bum's Perspective

Tom Kromer's Waiting For Nothing, is for me, one of the most interesting and emotional pieces we have read so far this semester. It has a sense of realism (despite the deliberate lack of a place and time) that is not present in many of the other pieces that have been assigned. One thing that really jumped out at me, particularly within the first few episodes, is the perspective that Tom Kromer has. He seems hyper aware of everything around him, which could be a survival instinct, but ultimately leads to a very interesting perspective for the reader.

In the first part of the story, Kromer is looking into a restaurant through a window. He immediately notices the disparity between his position and the social status of the couple before him. "This woman is sporting a satin dress...Her fingers are covered with diamonds...She is beautiful. Never have I seen a more beautiful woman...They do not eat. They only nibble. They are nibbling at chicken, and they are not even hungry. I am starved" (Kromer, 7). First off, he seems to appreciate the beauty of the woman before him. The way the passage is written, it is almost as if he is talking about some mystical figure, like an angel or a goddess, not just a normal woman. Then, his perspective and thought process switches and he notices the way they are eating. He becomes jealous and bitter, wishing he was in their place. Thinking that he should be the one eating chicken, not them. What this small scene does is give perspective into his mind - he seems to be switching between two specific points of view - the one he had before he was a bum (where he would notice a pretty woman) and the one he has after becoming homeless (thinking that others don't deserve food as much as he does).

Another scene I found interesting, as far as perspective is concerned, is when he is actually in the diner and the man in the suit buys him dinner. While he is appreciative of the meal, he is also sensing the man's need for attention. "This is a good guy. He orders my steak dinner in a loud voice so everyone can see how big-hearted he is, but he is a good guy anyway" (Kromer, 11). While Kromer will obviously take the kind heartedness where he can find it, he is also aware that maybe not everyone is helping out of the good of their heart. They may just want praise and attention and the illusion of being a good person. He does, however, very much appreciate the man who gives him money on the way out, because he does it silently and under the radar. This allows Kromer to be much more appreciative than he was to the man who bought him dinner. I think ultimately the bum's perspective, throughout the whole book, not just the beginning like I have focused on, gives a good sense of what a bum's life is truly like. It all seems honest and plausible and his recollection of these small episodic moments in time allow the reader to really catch a glimpse of their lives.