In Devil in a Blue Dress, the characters develop different survival strategies in order to cope with their violent and unstable world. Choose one character and define his or her survival strategy. Do a close reading of his or her actions and words in orde

Money is used as a coping mechanism. When the novel begins, Easy is focused on creating a life of stability and predictability. Having risked his life as a soldier and returned to the segregated South, he longs more than anything to have property of his own. As he becomes more wrapped up in the mystery, Easy develops a genuine love for adventure that inspires him to become a private investigator by the end of the novel. Yet initially, he just needs money because he has been laid off from Champion. All of Easy's actions after he agrees to work with Mr. Albright are fueled by his desire to have enough money to be financially secure and pay off his mortgage. Dupree acts as a foil to Easy in regard to money. Even though Dupree makes more than our protagonist, he does not have the same reverence for financial security as Easy. He spends his money so carelessly that he is evicted from his apartment.