One theme in Annie Between the States is that you have to sacrifice things for the people you love. Annie had a lot riding on her shoulders, because she had to be the strong one in her family during a hard time. Her brother, Laurence, also had to sacrifice his beliefs for the protection of his home and family. Early in the story, readers learn that the only reason Laurence if fighting for the south, is so he can protect his home (Virginia) and family. Laurence is 100% against slavery, and has even been working hard to try and free his own slaves. They are family to them, and they don’t even consider themselves slaves. They are Annie and Laurence's best friends, and they grew up together. The author used dialogue to show how special their relationship …show more content…
He had to sacrifice his beliefs to protect his family, friends, and homeland. This was extremely hard for Laurence to do, but it was his only option. Another example of this theme is when Annie had to sacrifice her most prized possession for Laurence's safety and survival in the war. Her horse, Angel, is her only piece of happiness during the horrible war, and she loves it to death. She gets a letter from Laurence, who asks her to send him the family’s strongest and smartest horse, because his died in battle. Annie instantly knows she has to give him Angel, because she’s the strongest one left. The author uses description, so we have a better understanding of how much Angel meant to Annie. She describes the horse so well, that a picture can be painted in the reader's mind, which helps show their special connection. Annie’s heart breaks a little, but she knows she has to give her up, so Laurence can survive in the battles to come. She can’t stand giving her up, but she knows it’s what she has to do. This shows that Annie is selfless and had to sacrifice one of her best friends for her brother’s safety. Finally, another example of sacrifice is when Annie risked her and Jamie’s (her youngest brother) lives to save her best friend, Rachel, and her aunt’s slave
Further, throughout the book, Sadie and Bessie continuously reminds the reader of the strong influence family life had on their entire lives. Their father and mother were college educated and their father was the first black Episcopal priest and vice principal at St. Augustine Co...
Family is a story about slaves, masters of the land, and the interconnectedness of what it means to be “family”. Loretta is the daughter of the Master of the Land and as a child spends time with Sun even teaching him to read. She was going against the law in doing this and she helped him to escape. Loretta was not a mean person; she risked a lot for Sun and truly cared about him. She knew he was her half-brother and treated him with respect. When Sun left he promised he would send for her, but he never did. He sent letters asking how his sisters were and she became jealous. Loretta had power over the slaves because she was the white daughter of the master and as she grew more jealous and learned the ranks in society she changed. She took out her anger and jealousy out on Peach, Plum, and Always. She became evil and all the goodness in her heart was gone. Due to the experiences in her life, she adapted to accommodate for her jealousy and to take on the role of Mistress of the Land. Under different circumstances in a different time period this might not have been the outcome. As a chil...
Throughout the novel, crucial family members and friends of the girl that died are meticulously reshaped by her absence. Lindsey, the sister, outgrows her timidity and develops a brave, fearless demeanor, while at the same time she glows with independence. Abigail, the mother, frees herself from the barbed wire that protected her loved ones yet caused her great pain, as well as learns that withdrawing oneself from their role in society may be the most favorable choice. Ruth, the remote friend from school, determines her career that will last a lifetime. and escapes from the dark place that she was drowning in before. Thus, next time one is overcome with grief, they must remember that constructive change is guaranteed to
Because the poem is written in two different formats it causes readers to want to know more from both perspectives. If reading the poem from the slave owners perspective the mood of the poem, revolves around happier times. Slavery is showcased to be a time of possibility and better times for everyone involved. But when reading it from the slave’s perspective, it is told from the business element. Although it is clear, they do not enjoy their job, you also see that they are overly dedicated. In the beginning, they state that they work from sun-up to sun-down doing the same thing every day. And although, they are doing the same thing every day their determination and hard work is clearly shown. Furthermore, it is also shown that even at a young age they started working as slaves. From the slave owner’s perspective, we see that they are content with how things were during slavery. But from slave side they are fed up with being viewed as a profit. Therefore, the two separate moods are clearly shown. However, one thing that is interesting is that both poems end with the same word “slavery”. The fact that both poems ended using the same word, show how although they are living in two separate worlds somehow they still will collide. It also shows, that although they have two different moods it all ties back to the word
This is an example of the importance of family because it shows how they are sticking together to protect one member by sacrificing themselves. By sacrificing themselves it shows the unwillingness that being
The Garies were a particularly well off family who were accepted by their neighbors in the south. Even though their life together wasn’t frowned upon they were still unable to get married due to laws that still existed in the south. That being said, these laws demonstrate the social inequality that still existed between the races. Since slavery still existed in the south Emily wanted a better life for her children, a life where if anything were to happen to Clarence she and her family were able to remain free. During this time period the north was considered to be free, as a result Emily convinced Clarence to move. When the Garies get to the north they realize that life isn’t as easy as they thought it was going to be. Despite the fact that the north is free from slavery, racism still exists. This is shown by the Garies neighbor known as “Slippery George” Stevens. Mr. Stevens makes it a priority to show the Garies they are unwanted in their neighborhood by keeping their children out of
George and Ophelia grow up in significantly different environments with exposure to vastly dissimilar experiences; their diverse backgrounds have a profound impact on the way they interpret and react to situations as adults. George and Ophelia both grow up without their parents, but for different reasons. George grows up at the Wallace P. Andrews Shelter for Boys in New York. The Shelter’s strict surroundings did not provide the warm and inviting atmosphere that a mother strives for in a home. The employees at the Shelter are not “loving people,” (p. 23) but they are devoted to their job, and the boys. At a young age, Ophelia loses her mother. We learn very little about her apparently absent father. Mama Day and Abigail raise Ophelia. Abigail provides a source of comfort and love for Ophelia as she fulfills the role of mother figure. Mama day, Ophelia’s great aunt, acts more as a father figure. “If Grandma had been there, she would have held me when I broke down and cry. Mama Day only said that for a long time there would be something to bring on tears aplenty.” (p. 304). Ophelia grows up on the small island of Willow Springs. Everyone knows each other and their business, in the laid-back island community. The border between Georgia and South Carolina splits down the middle of the island. Instead of seeing any advantage to belonging to either state, the townspeople would prefer to operate independently. For George and Ophelia, the differences in their backgrounds will have a tremendous impact on many facets of their adult lives.
The Mother is among a family of four who lives on a small farm and takes immense pride in what interests her, however her passion does not particularly lie in her two children; James and David; nor in her husband and their interests; but instead lies within her chickens. Though chickens bring the most joy to the Mother, they are not the sole animals that live on the farm. The animal that draws the most interest from the father, James and David is their horse, Scott. At a young age, Scott was used as a working mule for the family and grew up alongside the Father and two Sons. To the father, Scott was like one of his own sons, and to James and David, Scott was like their brother; but according to the Mother, “He’s been worthless these last few years”(Macleod, 267). Ever since Scott was young, he was a burden on the Mother’s lifestyle; she never took a liking to the horse even when he served as a source of profit for the family. The Mother had never appreciated the sentimental value that Scott possessed because he had never been a particular interest to her. Once Scott had aged and was no longer able...
Ike and Bobby gained somewhat of a positive relationship with a lonely old woman named Mrs. Stearns, who was one of the people they delivered the paper to every week. The relationship the boys have with Iva Stearns was particularly interesting. Because they all lived in such a small town, Iva was aware of little things going on here and there within the boys’ family, things going on at school, etc. One could assume that she knew that they didn’t exactly have it easy, so she did as much as she could to take these boys under her wing, treating them as her own children (or grandchildren). Iva acted as a motherly figure for the boys, talking to them about school issues, talking about life events, and even teaches them how to make cookies at one
King is talking about how they had a moment of freedom to their "never ending" struggles. This is a similar experience like how Mama bought a house for her family to move into, and have more space instead of being crowded in their tiny apartment. Ruth was the one that felt the most relief in moving because she felt as if she was being held hostage in the apartment, and she needed a break. Moving back into the first quote that was stated in this essay, the withering injustice that king explained how their struggles were dreadful towards the Negro slaves. The Younger's can relate to this situation because they were not welcomed to their new neighborhood like they should have because of the color of their skin. Evidently the "A Raisin In The Sun" play and the "I Have A Dream" speech both have relations and connections about their dreams and
Sarah treats handful better than any slave is supposed to be treated. Sarah is talking to handful and says "when I marry, would you come with me to live? (128)” Sarah and handful have such a good friendship that Sarah wants handful to live with her when she is married. Sarah would never ask another slave to live with her when she is married, but handful and Sarah have built such a strong bond. Sarah and handfuls relationship is so strong that Sarah wants them to be together forever. Sarah and handful are such close friends that their friendship will last forever. Handful said to Sarah “I reckon I’ll miss you, too, (128)” Sarah and handful do not want to leave each other but when the day comes and it has to happen they will miss each other very much. When leaves she will miss some people more then she misses other people. Sarah will miss handful a lot and she will also miss her mother. It is very crazy that the person the rich girl will miss the most is a slave. That just shows how strong their friendship is, because Sarah does not just feel sorry for handful but they have a real friendship. At first their relationship was slave and slave owner but now, they have a real friendship. Sarah wants to free handful because she is an abolitionist but also because they are
...th and justice he cannot justify completely abandoning his father. He must give his father some kind of eulogy and finally does with the words “He was brave! He was! He was in the war! He was in Colonel Sartoris’ cav’ry!” whispered into the night.
loss of his slaves. Annette is left with no one of her colour or class
The first of the contentions is that of race. As New York Times Book Review correspondent John Irving aptly puts it: "Miss Morrison uncovers all the stereotypical racial fears felt by whites and blacks alike." Prejudice exists between the white and black people in the house; between the black people of the house; the black people and the local populace. Sydney and Ondine Childs, the Cook and Butler in the house of Valerian Street, feel superior to the local black populace. Sydney remarks twice on how he is "A genuine Philadelphia Negro mentioned in the book of that name" (284). Part of this feeling of superiority might be class-related. The Childs' are very proud of their positions in the Street house-they are industrious and hardworking. The Dominique blacks are to them "swamp women" or "horsemen"--depersonalized figures. This is most apparent in their ignorance of their help's names--they dub Gideon, Thérèse, and Alma Estée "Yardman" and "the Marys." At Christmas dinner Valerian adds epithets calling them "Thérèse the Thief and Gideon the Get Away Man." (201). But as Judylyn Ryan points out, "Both the superordinate and the subordinate exercise this prerogative of nam...
“Now suppose you had a little colt, and you were your own mother to that little colt… And all of the sudden that same little colt went and died… You’d be sorry, wouldn’t you?” When dealing with death, an individual is encompassed with all kinds of feelings and emotions. Depression, denial, and guilt are all the components of mourning through death. This quote, relates to the thought that everything one experiences is associated with their environment. Iona and the mare experience two different environments. For Iona, it’s adjusting to a life without his son. The little mare lives a life away from the farms in a gloomy city. Iona places the little mare in a similar scenario he’s in, as if she can respond. Although she can’t, the horse’s compassion is visible once again. “The little mare munches, listens, and breathers on her master’s hands.” The healing power of the mare was the key to easing Iona’s suffering. When Iona couldn’t find a sense of closure through the communication with human beings he finally opens his eyes to realize the one listener he had, was his little white mare. He pours his sorrows out to her and not only did she show compassion by hearing his every word, she physically comforts him. The little breath on his hand represents the transfer of warmth from the mare to Iona on a cold winter day. Even though she’s restricted to what she can do, at the end