As I continue to read this novel, I am discovering how this novel is actually supposed to be read. Yes, this book doesn't make sense if you have only read a small portion of it. However, each couple of chapters seem to be puzzle pieces in which come together if you can put all of the pieces together. Anyways, these 100 pages start with Mattie talking about her mother. She remembers her mother's final request to take her spot in the house as the woman. Mattie reflects on her mother's cancer that ended her life and begins to think that maybe everyone's lives would be better if she would have been the one to pass away instead of her mother. Mattie even goes on to say, "I wished I cut cut the rest out of me the way the doctor cut the cancer out of her, but I couldn't. No matter how hard I struggled to keep my last images of her at bay, they came anyway." (211) What Mattie needs to do is forget the past. The past is something you cannot change. Things happen and there is no way to altar them. She needs to focus on where she lies in the present, and how she can shape her future. Anyways, as this story carries on, so does Mattie's relationship with Royal. These two have so much passion for each other that they decide to get married. What? You don't believe me? Well, yes, this happens. Even though Mattie is just 16 and has SO many other things going on with her life, she decides to marry Royal. "'Oh yes! Yes, I would,' I whispered. And then I threw my arms around his neck and kissed him and nearly sobbed with relief when I felt him kiss me back." (225) I have decided to take this information I have just read out of my mind. Too many things are going on at once. However, this can bring in a bit of foreshadowing towards the future. Ya' see, Mattie's dream is to attend college in New York. Royal's dream is to have just as much land as Mattie's father. There is going to be a tough "bridge", if I may, that these two will have to c"cross over" if they each want to follow there dreams. So, if this much information hasn't confused you yet, maybe this will. Mattie finds many letters in which are between a girl and a boy named Grace and Chester. Now these two have been sending out love letters to each other for quite a while now. However, Grace states in one of her letters that she is unable to swim while Chester states that he can and can also handle a boat. In all, Grace ends up drowning in a lake while she was pregnant with what we may assume is Chester's child. "There was only Chester Gilette. And Chester could handle a boat. Chester Gilette could swim." (238) What I believe that is is being applied here is that Chester killed Grace. This information is not written, but one may assume that Chester is behind this madness. I believe these pages can best be explained by this song written by the old Escape the Fate with Ronny Radke. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wpKY00XyXw To me, this song explains how so many things are going on, but no one is there to stop the bad things from happening.
Dear Brandon,
ReplyDeleteI do agree with you that Mattie has to think about the present. I am waiting for the part when she finally realizes that going to college is what her mother wanted. The promise Mattie made with her mother is not the one she[the mother] would want. It has been stated that Mattie's mother wanted her to college no matter what, but I think that she is conflicted on what to do. To keep the promise, or break it to go to college and fulfill her mother's dream. I think the song effectively demonstrates Mattie's position in her life. She is torn between going to college or marrying Royal.
But even if she realizes that going to college is what her mother wants, do you think she will listen. I mean, in the beginning half of the book I have this sense of hatred toward her mother since she left her to do all the work. She never wanted to be the housewife in the family. But now i see that she does need to move away from the past and come to accept the things she needs to do to become successful
ReplyDeletehttp://artists.letssingit.com/faron-young-lyrics-forget-the-past-j2t12rq
This is a funny song I found about forgetting the past
~Hess