Pat Conroy's Memoir "The Water Is Wide"

620 Words2 Pages

Segregation in America has only just recently concluded. But during the writing of The Water is Wide, the people of Yamacraw Island must infinitely live in their stagnant lifestyle of illiteracy, and ignorance. The children from the island have received values and beliefs passed down from their parents. In Pat Conroy’s perspective, the government neglected Yamacraw Island and caused these values and beliefs to remain in use. In the memoir The Water is Wide by Pat Conroy, the author stresses the impact that segregation and national ignorance has on the people of a socially isolated town on Yamacraw Island, South Carolina. Mrs. Brown, the first schoolteacher on the island, most clearly demonstrates the theme of national ignorance. Mrs. Brown focuses on old-fashioned, and worthless teaching methods to educate her students. She very strictly follows the curriculum of the government, regardless of whether the students understand the content at all. She lacks caring and belief that the students will succeed. She just continues teaching her class according to the law, which in itself has ...

Open Document