What limits Lottie from carrying out her plans is saving up

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The Richer, The Poorer by Dorothy West
Understanding
The aspect that limits Lottie from carrying out her plans is saving up for the future. She focuses on working hard and saving up for a better future (West).
Bess was better off without children because of her poor economic status. According to the text, Bess and Harry lived like gypsies and were always on rags rather than riches and hence suggesting that having a child would have been a huge burden for them (West).
Lottie being “trapped by the blood tie” refers to her sister’s situation whereby Lottie has no other option but to take care of Bess. Harry died and left Bess with nothing apart from his horn. Instead of abandoning her sister to wallow in poverty, Lottie becomes trapped by the blood tie to accommodate her (West).
From an individual view, Lottie enjoyed cleaning up the house as it gave her a sense of duty especially since she was used to working before losing her job.
It can be viewed that Bess made no comment on Lottie’s appearance, the food, and the house as she, was not much concerned with material wealth. As per the text, Bess only saw what she desired when she arrived at her sister’s home, a position in Lottie’s heart and house and hence illustrating that Bess focused more on intrinsic aspects rather than material things.
The subjects of Bess could be both magnificent and lowly in regards to her life’s experience. The lawlessness can be attributed to the fact that she was poor and had no children.

However, the magnificence can be associated with the love between Harry and her before his death.
Interpretation
The “time for summing up” implies that the sisters were approaching the end of their lives. They were both sixty years old which is a stage that is often associated with old age and hence likely to pass on.
The desire to acquire wealth and avoid risks are different terms as avoiding risks does not necessarily imply getting more money or wealth. The concepts relate when it comes to future ambitions and the need to curb poverty. Therefore to avoid the risk of dying poor or rather have a better life when old, one has to acquire wealth.
Bess’ statement implies that one gets to understand and enjoy life by knowing how much that life has to offer. It can be viewed that for Bess, life was not confined to acquiring wealth but being exposed to the world.
I believe that Bessie will be able to show Lottie how to live particularly since they were going to live together. Lottie’s life might change in terms of socializing with more people and being a giver rather than a miser. It is important to note that Bess’ presence in Lottie’s life influenced her even before Bess arrived at the house. Lottie was prompted to clean the house and organize her sister’s bedroom before her arrival in addition to making good food for both of them. She also changed her appearance.
Opinion
From an individual perspective, I associate more with Lottie when compared to Bess. I rarely engage in new social activities and traveling activities. I tend to focus more on my studies in addition to often thinking about the future in terms of savings and becoming wealthy.
I believe that Bess was happier when compared to Lottie. She appears not to worry about the future but rather enjoying the present. A good example is her desire to have a child despite her economic condition.
Work Cited
West, Dorothy. The Richer, The Poorer. New York: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, 2010. Print.