destituteReferring to poor financial conditions and severe poverty
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without the basic necessities of life"The characters in the novel are often destitute and struggle to survive."
dignityA concept often touched upon in the novel, referring to the quality of being worthy of respect
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the state or quality of being worthy of honor or respect"Despite their financial conditions, the characters carry themselves with dignity."
correspondenceThe novel unfolds through the exchange of letters between characters
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communication by exchanging letters with someone"The novel's plot is driven forward by the correspondence between the characters."
exploitInnovative and aggressive strategies often used by the characters to survive
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to make use of (a situation) in a way considered unfair or underhand"Some characters in the novel exploit others to better their own financial standing."
melancholyDescribes the overall emotional temperature of the novel
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a feeling of pensive sadness, typically with no obvious cause"The characters' constant struggles and hardships create an atmosphere of melancholy."