Breaking Night is an account of extreme poverty and eventual academic success. The memoir is authored by Liz Murray who was raised by drug-addict parents. She was mocked at school due to her filthy attires and lice-infested hair. This led her to skip many classes. At 15 years of age, she was wandering in the streets. After her mother passed on, Liz decided to control herself and go back to school. She received a New York Times-sponsored scholarship and acceptance to Harvard. Liz’s story is an unsettling reminder of lives lost to poverty and addiction. She draws the oppressive and fearful attention of being a destitute teenager who constantly hustles for places to stay.
The story is trying to emphasize the importance of relationships in creating or destructing the life of an individual. Despite her parents being addicted to substances, Liz still loves them. Indeed, she finds herself unable to disconnect from them despite all tragic and harsh experiences. Liz still carries a photo of her mother when she leaves home. The photo depicts her loving and caring personality as well as her close relationship with her mother. She builds new ways in her life due to the miserable life of her parents. Liz doesn’t want to end up like her parents. Instead, she finds a way of succeeding in life through education.
