The Great Depression was an era stricken by poverty and brokenness in America. Poverty was especially harsh on the migrants. The photo "Migrant Mother" by Dorothea Lange is a deep and emotional photo which genuinely captures the feelings and emotions during this sorrowful age. Lange took this photograph in 1936 which became one of the most iconic photos from the Great Depression. Lange captures a seemingly malnourished family including a mother, her three children, two toddlers and one infant. In the photograph, the focus is on the mother in middle with her two children as they hide their faces from them camera. The image evokes a feeling of sadness or sympathy for the mother and children. "Migrant Mother" is also taken in black and white, often provoking a feeling of sadness of gloominess. The photographer captures evidence of the hardships that immigrants often experienced during the Great Depression. Certain features of the photo help to convey the message of how hard life is for migrants and housewives who struggle to take care of their families. These features include the details of the clothing, expressions, and the mother's children. This photo can also be interpreted in different ways. For example, this image could be interpreted as an argument that it was harder living in America for migrants. Also, another argument that can be made from this photo is one of a women's rights issue. The issue that married women with children could not work in this time period. Lange illustrates her argument for women's rights as well as the recognition of the struggle many migrants experience through her photo "Migrant Mother". By adding key features to the photograph it shines light on the message that Lange is trying to convey to viewers. 

Lange gives key features of the image emphasis in order to help deliver her intended message to viewers. From the image some of the important features are the family's clothes, the emotion on the mothers face, and the children clinging to their mother for support. The clothes they are wearing are tattered from age, hard work, and bad living conditions. The frayed ends of the shirt the mother is wearing shows how battered and tiresome it is to struggle on a day to day basis. Also, the emotion on the mothers face is unforgettable and clearly recognizable. The mother looks on with despair worried for her children's lives. Her facial expression looks worn and tiresome. Given the wrinkles, it can be inferred this mother works hard to provide for her children in any way possible. As the children cling to their mother searching for support, they become hungrier and weak. They have their faces hidden behind their mother because they are likely very hungry and sorrowful because of their current social and financial positions in American society. All of these features in the photograph suggest that this family is of low financial status. 

Moving from place to place like many Migrants often do, is stressful and full of false hope from moving to a new place. In America it was especially difficult during the Great Depression. It was a time when many families suffered with poverty and  living conditions. As can be seen in the photo, it does not seem that the family lives in an area that provides decent living conditions that is essential for raising a family. Also, judging by their clothes they are tight on money and cannot afford nice clean clothes. The expression of the mother also make it seem like their situation is one stemming from lack of money in this hard time in America. I think that Lange is trying to make the argument that it is rough being a Migrant in the America, a lot harder than those native to the area. She also puts into perspective the hardships of this time in history. 

This photograph leaves me with many questions like why isn't she out working to help her family. Also, where is the father, is there one? Unfortunately in these dark times in American history, women were prohibited from many things in society. (http://www.westga.edu) One of those was their right to work if they were married. Married women in this time were expected to stay home and take care of the children and do things around the household to support the family. Married women had a disadvantage in society. Likely, the mother is married to a husband who is out in the workforce to make enough money to feed and house his family. This is sad because there is nothing more the mother and the father can do for their kids. However, if the mother were to be allowed to work, their family would then be in a better financial stance. Lange makes the argument against prohibition of women's rights. Her argument would be that married women have a lot more use in society than just housewives.

In America during this time of poverty and sorrow, the Great Depression fed off of unfortunate families. Often times these families were migrant families who moved to a different region or place to start over a new life or a new beginning. In the photo titled "Migrant Mother" by Dorothea Lange captures this time period and a migrant family struggling to survive. Lange creates an argument with this photograph by masterfully capturing key elements of this image to help illustrate her argument. One of the arguments that is made from this photograph is that migrants have a lot harder time surviving in different places than the natives do. Also, Lange makes an argument for women's rights. She makes the argument that married women should be allowed to work in America to help their impoverished families. This image illustrates the struggle of poverty during the Great Depression. 

