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May 10, 2006
Am I My Sister's Keeper?
McBride, The Color of Water (1996) -- Jerz: American Lit II (EL 267)
A significant theme of this novel is wrapped up in the diverse ways that different people respond to hardship. One of the driving points of the entire story is Mommy's unending, unbowing, unfailing strength and grace in the face of incredible odds, in the face of troubles that would flatten most of us. To any of us Mommy is the very model of courage. So it is interesting - both surprising and completely unsurprising - that the one time in Mommy's life she wasn't strong haunts her.
From page 201: '"I don't believe you,' she said. 'I know you're going back. Please don't go. Promise me you'll stay.' She sat on the bed and buried her face in her hands and cried, my little sister. 'Promise me,' she sobbed. 'Promise me you'll stay.'
"'Okay, I promise,' I said. 'I'll stay.' But I broke my promise to Dee-Dee and she never forgot it. And she would remind me of it many years later."
What is significant about this passage is what is not said. Mommy tells us that Dee-Dee never forgot, reminded her years later. But Mommy is the one who is remembering the incident in vivid detail. More importantly, Mommy is the one who CHOSE to tell this story. In the whole crazy story of her incredibly crowded life, Mommy thought that THIS incident was significant enough in her own personal development to recount. Mommy clearly still feels the sting of guilt and shame that is the central focus of this incident. This demonstrates how what we might think are obvious assumptions about characters are perhaps not so obvious. We look at Mommy and see uncomplaining Grace and strength. Mommy looks at a life full of accomplishment driven by love and isolates this incident to recount many years later.
Posted by MeganRitter at May 10, 2006 03:53 PM