Are poor people just working for mere survival or with the hopes of living a better life far beyond what they can ever comprehend?
It depends on the individual, environment and peer group. If a poor man is in an interior place or leave in the ghetto in the city and don't have rich men children as his friends, he might not think that big in future. If the poor man has the zeal to upgrade his standard of living and work towards it with a positive mindset, he will definitely be elevated from his poverty. The most important thing is to be at the right place at the right time with the right people.
The environment is indeed a significant influence on why poor people often remain poor. Furthermore poor people often remain poor not because they are lazy, but because they simply don't have the same opportunities as others. This is also due to the high cost of education. When these opportunities are not met, they become preoccupied with simply surviving instead of seeking opportunities. The lack of a government commitment to addressing poverty makes it difficult for them to escape poverty.
People who are wealthy by birth often face challenges when they become poor, especially if their environment is unsupportive and they have never experienced the struggles of the lower classes. This contrasts with the wealthy who started from the bottom but when they become poor again they are more likely to recover easily and be re-motivated to become rich.