Final answer:
The understated family reaction to a refusal of money might be a narrative choice to provoke thought rather than simply disappoint, reflecting the complex reality of poverty as depicted in the book 'Evicted.'
Step-by-step explanation:
By understating the family's reaction to Walker's refusal to take the lender's money, the author might be employing a literary device to provoke thought rather than to leave the reader feeling disappointed. This narrative choice can be a powerful form of storytelling that encourages readers to engage more deeply with the text, perhaps to question their own expectations for a resolution or to consider the complexities of the characters' situations. Instead of tying up the story with a neat conclusion, the author leaves space for ambiguity, which can be a more accurate reflection of real-life scenarios, much like in the stories described in 'Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City' by Matthew Desmond. The lack of clean resolutions in these narratives aligns with the book's portrayal of the harsh realities faced by poor families, where not all problems are easily solved.