Main Theme Of The Summer People

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The Summer People: Parents Via Friendship In Kelly Link 's short story, The Summer People, the overall theme is that of debt, relationships and wealth. The story is about Fran, a teenage girl who lives in rural North Carolina. Her father, who comes in and out of her life, has gone away to Florida to find God. The mother abandoned them and left Fran in charge of the summer people. The short story starts out with Fran having the flu and now is taking care of herself. She decides to go to school, but later realizes that she can’t do it. She convinces an old friend, Ophelia to drive her home. Fran sends Ophelia to the summer people to get her medicine. Fran convinces Ophelia to sleep in the room. Fran finally feels free because she decides to make her escape. In her short story, The Summer People, Kelly Link helps Fran escape the Summer People House, just like her mother, via her renewed friendship with Ophelia. The main conflict is that Fran is wanting to escape and finding her …show more content…

Fran was first that sweet innocent character until what she does to Ophelia. Fran is described at the beginning as a sweet, poor, friend, and hard working. Towards the end, Fran is more of not a friend, take advantage of things, poor, and hard working. Ophelia at the beginning is rich, helps people, sweet, and sings. Towards the end, Ophelia does not realize but Fran takes advantage of her. Fran had now left Ophelia with the Summer People. “I remember now,” Ophelia said. “When you came and played at my house. You brought a silver minnow. It was smaller than my finger” (Link 14)… This is when Ophelia a Fran start to remember their friendship together and renew the friendship also. “I wish I could help out,” Ophelia said. “You know, with the house and the summer people. You shouldn’t have to do everything, not all of the time” (Link 25). This leading up to Fran’s idea of leaving Ophelia with the summer

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