"Twenty years ago I wanted to move to a nice place so our Charley would grow up a nice boy and learn a profession. But instead we live in a jungle, so he can only be a wild animal. D'you think I picked the East Side like Columbus picked America?"

The quote by Abraham Polonsky is a reflection on the life of his boy, Charley. It speaks to the concept of the American Dream, and how it can be difficult to achieve. Twenty years earlier, Polonsky wanted to move to a nice place so his child could grow up in a great environment and find out a profession. However, rather they ended up living in a "jungle", which has avoided Charley from attaining his capacity. The quote likewise suggests that Polonsky's decision to relocate to the East Side was an error, comparable to Christopher Columbus' choice to "discover" America. The quote is an effective pointer of the battles of immigrants and their households, and how hard it can be to achieve the American Dream.