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 …show more content…
Just as Terri Hamilton argues in her article, the moments where characters “make clear, undeniable impacts” on one another make stories “rich in a more realistic way” (Hamilton). In Hamilton’s personal interviews, many have argued that Plainsong is a book where “nothing dramatic, thrilling or exiting happens,” (Hamilton), although she begs to differ. As this relationship with Mrs. Stearns exhibits, the boys bond with her, and gain her trust, only to find her dead in her apartment later on in the story. Although something like this may not exactly be the most ‘exciting’ event in a story, a reader can understand the reality of the situation, and may be able to put themselves in these boys’ shoes. After dealing with their mother’s abandonment, the reader gets the sense that this woman may be able to serve as a prominent mother figure, but once again, they are left alone after her sudden death. As the boys are not quite sure how to deal with the death of Mrs. Sterns, they took a horseback ride 11 miles out of town, to see the McPheron brothers. Until this point in the story, it was not clear whether or not the Guthrie boys had a trusting relationship with Raymond and Harold, but seemingly so, they …show more content…
Her mother kicks her out; the father of her baby abandons her. The young high school girl is left alone to figure it out for herself. This girl’s life becomes stressful very quickly, for obvious reasons. Just as the saying goes, when it rains, it pours, and this is exactly what seems to be happening to Victoria. The studies conducted by the three psychology researchers make a claim that women in particular, at such a young age “may respond to extreme situations in a more depressed manner” (Chang 11). I would argue myself that falling pregnant at such a young age, having nowhere to live, and no one to support me would be especially difficult, so Victoria is definitely not in a positive state of mind. After a teacher, Maggie Jones took Victoria under her wing, and it didn’t work out so well due to her senile father’s angry confusion. Maggie asked two elderly bachelor brothers, Raymond and Harold McPheron, if they were willing to take the young girl in. Maggie made a good point, “you old solitary bastards need somebody” (Haruf 110). Harold even refers to him and his brother as “old men, alone, crotchety, ignorant. Lonesome. Independent” (Haruf 112), set in their ways. As I analyze the depressed states Victoria, I see the climax of her negative coping when she makes an impulse decision to live with her baby’s father in Denver. She went to
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...
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.
Even with the pain of bearing children, raising them, doing household and even farm chores, their efforts have never been truly appreciated. Mrs. Wright was “…real sweet and pretty, but kind of timid—and fluttery…” as Mrs. Hale, her neighbor, describes her (22). This would all soon change after her wedding day. With Mr. Wright’s insipid character and lack of patience of any joyous sound, Mrs. Wright’s spirit dwindled to nothing. It seems she spent hours at a time focusing on her quilts, preserves, and caring for the only life there was in the house, her canary. Even when Mr. Hale offered to get a party telephone, Mr. Wright responded, “…folks talk too much anyway…”(5). This silence he preferred also applied to his spouse. There were no hugs given out much less a smile. He failed to give her even the most minimal sing of appreciation much less the emotional warmth she hungered for.
...e on her part. Throughout the story, the Mother is portrayed as the dominant figure, which resembled the amount of say that the father and children had on matters. Together, the Father, James, and David strived to maintain equality by helping with the chickens and taking care of Scott; however, despite the effort that they had put in, the Mother refused to be persuaded that Scott was of any value and therefore she felt that selling him would be most beneficial. The Mother’s persona is unsympathetic as she lacks respect and a heart towards her family members. Since the Mother never showed equality, her character had unraveled into the creation of a negative atmosphere in which her family is now cemented in. For the Father, David and James, it is only now the memories of Scott that will hold their bond together.
Once upon a time, there was a normal family who lived in the small town of Holcomb, Kansas. They were the image of the perfect family. The father, Mr. Clutter was “the community 's most widely known citizen, prominent both there and in Garden City” and “He was currently chairman of the Kansas Conference of Farm Organizations, and his name was everywhere respectfully recognized among Midwestern agriculturists, as it was in certain Washington offices.” (In cold blood, p. 6). His two younger children, Nancy and Kenyon clutter were both high school students. Nancy was “ a popular, pretty, virginal girl” who liked to “read, cook, sew, dance, ride horseback” (In cold blood, p. 84). Kenyon was a very sensitive and intelligent boy, a good carpenter
Narrated by the mother of two daughters, the story opens with an examination of one daughter's favoring of appearances over substance, and the effect this has on her relatives. The mother and her younger daughter, Maggie, live in an impoverished rural area. They anticipate the arrival of the elder daughter, Dee, who left home for college and is bringing her new husband with her for a visit. The mother recalls how, as a child, Dee hated the house in which she was raised. It was destroyed in a fire, and as it was burning, Dee "(stood) off under the sweet gum tree... a look of concentration on her face", tempting her mother to ask, "'why don't you do a dance around the ashes?'" (Walker 91) She expects Dee will hate their current house, also. The small, three-room house sits in a pasture, with "no real windows, just some holes cut in the sides" (Walker 92), and although, as Dee asserts, they "choose to live" in such a place, Dee keeps her promise to visit them (Walker 92). Her distaste for her origins is felt by her mother and Maggie, who, in anticipation of Dee's arrival, internalize her attitudes. They feel to some extent their own unworthiness. The mother envisions a reunion in which her educated, urbane daughter would be proud of her. In reality, she describes her...
Joseph and Rose Kennedy had nine children: Joseph Jr., John, Rosemary, Kathleen, Eunice, Patricia, Robert, Jean, and Edward (Teddy). They set up a million dollar trust fund for each of their children for their education, so that they would never have to worry. This let them devote their lives to public good. The parents divided supper into two age groups. They ate at both, so that they could discuss important issues with each group. Their father had a motto, “Second place is a loser”. All the children loved sports except, Rosemary, who didn’t like rough play. Mrs. Kennedy took the children on long walks and to church each day.
In regards to Louise, there is evidence in the case study to suggest low levels of social and emotional well-being. Being her first year at university she may not have had many friends to begin with and build a social circle of close relationships. The stress and workload of university studies may have been too much for her to tackle and the increasing pressure may have been above her level of resilience. She allowed herself to be isolated from society, preventing any form of socialisation. Leading towards an aggressive downward spiral of her mental
Looking back on the death of Larissa’s son, Zebedee Breeze, Lorraine examines Larissa’s response to the passing of her child. Lorraine says, “I never saw her cry that day or any other. She never mentioned her sons.” (Senior 311). This statement from Lorraine shows how even though Larissa was devastated by the news of her son’s passing, she had to keep going. Women in Larissa’s position did not have the luxury of stopping everything to grieve. While someone in Lorraine’s position could take time to grieve and recover from the loss of a loved one, Larissa was expected to keep working despite the grief she felt. One of the saddest things about Zebedee’s passing, was that Larissa had to leave him and was not able to stay with her family because she had to take care of other families. Not only did Larissa have the strength to move on and keep working after her son’s passing, Larissa and other women like her also had no choice but to leave their families in order to find a way to support them. As a child, Lorraine did not understand the strength Larissa must have had to leave her family to take care of someone else’s
The narrator, Twyla, begins by recalling the time she spent with her friend, Roberta, at the St. Bonaventure orphanage. From the beginning of the story, the only fact that is confirmed by the author is that Twyla and Roberta are of a different race, saying, “they looked like salt and pepper” (Morrison, 2254). They were eight-years old. In the beginning of the story, Twyla says, “My mother danced all night and Roberta’s was sick.” This line sets the tone of the story from the start. This quote begins to separate the two girls i...
The film chronicles the histories of three fathers, and manages to relates and link their events and situations. First is Mitchell Stephens and his relationship with his drug-addict daughter. Second is Sam, and the secret affair he is having with his young daughter Nicole. He is somewhat of a narcissistic character because of his preoccupation with himself and pleasing himself, and his lack of empathy throughout the film for the others in the town. Third is Billy, who loves his two children so much that he follows behind the school bus every day waving at them. Billy is also having an affair with a married woman who owns the town’s only motel. On the exterior the town is an average place with good people just living their lives. But, beneath all the small town simplicity is a web of lies and secrets, some which must be dealt with in the face of this tragedy.
Eva’s lack of value for motherhood shaped the lives of her family as well as her own. Because of her negative feelings toward motherhood, many of the people surrounding her have similar values. Eva reflects her community’s negative perception of motherhood by being straightforward about it and passing it down through her family
In “The Farmer’s Children,” Elizabeth Bishop uses different literary techniques to portray her theme. “The Farmer’s Children” tells the story of two young brothers, Cato and Emerson, who have to sleep in the cold in their father’s barn in order to protect the tools inside. These brothers also have to endure parental neglect from their stepmother and father which causes them to freeze to death in the barn. One technique that is used by Bishop is the characterization of the parents. In addition, Bishop uses an allusion, which is a reference to a work of art in another work of art, and symbolism to further show how the characterization of the parents affected the two brothers. In “The Farmer’s Children,” Bishop uses the characterization of the parents of Cato and Emerson, the allusion to “Hansel and Grethel,” and the symbolism of the stepmother’s snowflake quilt to portray the theme of how parental neglect can lead to negative consequences.
Rebecca West and Virginia Woolf give great significance to the families of their respective main characters in The Return of the Soldier and Jacob’s Room because it gives the reader a greater insight to the formation of and reasoning for both Chris and Jacob’s nature. Each of these characters have multiple families to deal with: Chris has Kitty and Jenny on the one hand, and Margaret on the other, while Jacob deals with his mother and brother as well as his connections to society and academia. The distinctions between each character’s multiple families cause them to behave differently in various situations, and provide reasons for their actions. It is said that we are shaped by our surroundings and molded by our families, and Woolf and West’s male protagonists prove to be no exception to this rule.
Mrs. Mallard’s repressed married life is a secret that she keeps to herself. She is not open and honest with her sister Josephine who has shown nothing but concern. This is clearly evident in the great care that her sister and husband’s friend Richard show to break the news of her husband’s tragic death as gently as they can. They think that she is so much in love with him that hearing the news of his death would aggravate her poor heart condition and lead to death. Little do they know that she did not love him dearly at all and in fact took the news in a very positive way, opening her arms to welcome a new life without her husband. This can be seen in the fact that when she storms into her room and her focus shifts drastically from that of her husband’s death to nature that is symbolic of new life and possibilities awaiting her. Her senses came to life; they come alive to the beauty in the nature. Her eyes could reach the vastness of the sky; she could smell the delicious breath of rain in the air; and ears became attentive to a song f...