Genre
Novel
Setting and Context
New York in the early 20th century
Narrator and Point of View
The narrators who use first-person include George Flicker and Mazie.
Tone and Mood
Lively, dramatic, gripping, adventurous, self-sacrificing, and chaotic.
Protagonist and Antagonist
Saint Mazie-the protagonist. Bums' poverty-Antagonist
Major Conflict
The novel focuses on Saint Mazie’s dedication to the vagrants.
Climax
The occurrence of the economically-devastating Great Depression.
Foreshadowing
The gypsy foreshadows the clients’ futures.
Understatement
N/A
Allusions
The name ‘Saint Mazie’ is a religious allusion. Historical allusions such as "The Prohibition" place the novel in its intended historical context.
Imagery
‘Saint Mazie’ leads a delightful and fun-filled life. Her enthusiasm in aiding the bums is equivalent to a saint helping individuals to attain redemption.
Paradox
Mazie’s penchant for the streets is paradoxical considering that: “These streets are dirty, but they’re home, and they’re beautiful to me.” Despite the streets’ manifest filthiness, Mazie and the bums who call it home see the splendor in them.
Parallelism
Entries in Saint Mazie’s diary follow a parallel structure whereby most of the sentences start with the article ‘ the’ And ‘I.’
Metonymy and Synecdoche
‘Booze’ denotes alcohol.
Personification
Saint Mazie personifies the city (New York).
