Wrapping up Maggie

I originally thought Maggie would have never been taught in a public school because it was so short and difficult to read (not to mention its content of prostitution and abuse): why would teachers even try to teach it? Between the "immigrant vernacular" and the obscure narration, the plot of the story was likely to get lost while a child was reading. But after exploring the main themes, I found some redeemable traits in the text. Point of view, symbolism, imagery, setting and characterization led us to see the value in a text that may have otherwise been boring, unrelatable, or difficult for students. But by focusing on the specifics in the text, we got at a bigger picture.
Through engaging students in both top-down methods and student-led discussions we can hope to teach the lessons that Maggie has to offer today's younger generation. When taught properly, the book can teach students that just because people are from a different time period does not mean that they are somehow different from us. Theatrics, appearances, and gossip are prized above anything else in the world of Maggie. Maggie teaches us what it means to start from nothing and fight in an environment where onlookers are all talk and no action.
That being said, a few essential questions for Maggie might be:
1. What does it mean to be a member of a community in this book?
2. Who is responsible for ensuring that children are raised well?/ What makes a successful parent?
4. How effective is irony and satire in stimulating change?
5. How does Darwinism fit into a social structure like Maggie's?