Beyond the Curve Lesson Plan

What does the excerpt, “Jackets are made to be sold, aren’t they” say about the values of the town in the story? What does it suggest more broadly about the sense of purpose and meaning in the characters’ lives? Which likely came first–the society’s sense of meaning and purpose, or its system of buying and selling? How can you tell?

Students might reflect on how ordinary and even noble the phrase “Jackets are meant to be sold” may seem at first glance, in the sense that it expresses the value of earning a living through hard work. However, they will note that the response which follows it in the text, “And don’t forget it. Anyone who thinks they’re made to be worn has...