The Tenant

Blake’s character and the life he has built in The Tenant are defined by his financial success and his social status. Central to that status is his brownstone on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, which he prides himself on being able to afford due to his hard work with his marketing firm. For Blake, the brownstone symbolizes his wealth and status, and the act of bringing in a tenant to infiltrate his prestigious home is the first crack in the successful life that he has tried to build.

Traditionally, the Upper West Side of Manhattan has been known for its wealth and prestige. Within New York City, the neighborhood’s median household income of $145,620 was “about 88% more than citywide median household income,” with a poverty rate of “10.5% in 2022 compared to 18.3% citywide” (“Upper West Side Neighborhood Profile.” NYU Ferman Center, 8 May 2025). The median household income was also well above the national average, which stood at $80,610 in 2023 (Guzman, Gloria and Melissa Kolar. “Income in the United States: 2023”. US Census, 10 Sep. 2024). For these reasons, Blake views his purchase of property there as a defining moment in his career, marking his status as successful.