Unfinished Desires

I just finished reading Unfinished desires which was a long trek simply due to all the studying and papers I have been writing. Now that all my papers are in and I have only my History final left to study for I took a bit of time to finish this book. It was about an all girls catholic school in Appalachia North Carolina. It was sent throughout the 1900's and was going back and forth over the life of the Nun, Mother Ravenel, who ran the school, from the time she attended the school as a girl, to the 1950's when she had some serious issues with the 9th grade class, to her in a nun's retirement home in the year 2000. The book is really her life story as well as a coming of age story for the 14 years old in her 9th grade class, many who's mothers she went to school with herself when she was a girl. Like the book WENCH that I read the book seemed to set a back drop for a big reveal but the big secret wasn't really much of a secret at all. Before Mother Ravenel was a nun, during high school, she shared a kiss with her best friend, Antoniawho shared her vocation. This seemed to cause the girls to drift apart and she accepted her vocation and her friend didn't and went on to marry. Her friend was killed on her honeymoon. Years later, Antonia's twins sisters daughter, her niece is attending the school as well as Antonia's husbands niece and they get to be friends. The story gets told from their perspective as well as a few other girls. Although it moves along and the writing is good, it doesn't seem to delve far enough into any major revelations in characters to warrant all the skipping around. All in all it wasn't a bad book but it wasn't great either.

New Books, New Posts

Since my last entries I have read another book with the idea of using it for the "Book Talk" and part of the independent reading project. The name of the book is "Remarkable Creatures" by Tracy Chevalier. I read a few Chevalier books a few years ago when she was riding her popularity from "Girl with a Pearl Earring" all of which I liked, I believe it was "Girl with a Pearl Earring" I read and "The Virgin Blue". I know both provided a fictional tale with an historical outlook but were decidedly fictional. Without thinking about it at all I sunk my teeth into "Remarkable Creatures" approaching the book as entirely fictional.

The book has a major theme of the feminine plight in regards to social standing, education and recognition in scientific arena's circa the early 1800's and provides a relatively bleak outlook for unmarried woman of limited means. The story is told in alternating chapters between an educated middle class London spinster and an adolescent lower class village girl of Lyme-Regis and the different vernaculars used to convey the position of each woman is so well done that you feel as though you are reading two different novels, that is until their stories begin to come together. The book begins with the story of Elizabeth Philpot, an unmarried middle class London woman of a certain age. Elizabeth and her 2 other unmarried sisters parents have died and although they are left with a small income it will not be enough to allow them to live in London. Their brother suggests a tour of the seacoast towns in England to find a place they deem suitable to live in. They decide on the holiday town of Lyme-Regis which is affordable but leaves them little expectations for socializing within their own class. Elizabeths decides quickly that her main passion and form of entertainment will be the collecting of fish fossils on the beaches of Lyme-Regis. While pursuing her new hobby she meets what will become the other main character of the book, the young Mary Anning, daughter of a local cabinet maker and sometime "Curie" or curiosity seller which is what the lower class deems fossils. While combing the beach Elizabeth and Mary develop a friendship and mutual respect for each other that takes them through the next few decades. During this friend ship Mary begins to discover creatures on the beach outside the realm of the regular shells, fish and fossils she normally finds on the beach.

What your not realizing as you read this novel is that at the time the concept of evolution has not yet been defined by Darwin and the possibility of species that haven't become extinct is not one that is just beginning circulation in academia and is resolutely dismissed by religious leaders. The idea of dinosuars has not even been considered and the mainstream belief is that the natural world has always been very similar to what it looked like in the early 1800's.

The main source of knowledge of the animal kingdom and the first person to consider extinction is a Frenchman named Georges Cuvier considered by many the father of zoology and paleontology. Elizabeth considers him the highest authority in the field of naturalism and looks to his works to further her own and to educate Mary in regards to scientific process.

One of the main themes of the book is how the lack of education held women back and therefore limited their contributions to the scientific world. Although the discoveries made by Mary Anning shook the foundations of naturalism, science and theology even today her name is little remembered outside of a few notes by the male scientists of the day and the local museums of natural history of Lyme-Regis.

Mary who has a gift of sight when it comes to fossils similar to looking for a four leaf clover in a bed of grass makes some startling discoveries on the beach. Mary discovers the fossil of an extremely large reptile-ish creature that they call a crocodile but know in there hearts is something very different. With Elizabeths help they extract the fossil and make some inquiries in the scientific community for the sale of the fossil because Mary Anning is supporting her family predominately through fossil collecting since her father died. This is the start of Mary being alternately sought out and used by the scientific community made completely up of men at the time. What you come to discover is that Mary is finding the first dinosaurs ever discovered on the shores of England and is quickly becoming the worlds preeminent expert of finding, identifying, extracting and preserving specimens in the world. Over many years Mary makes considerable findings that shake the foundations of the natural world and many men come from all over the world to work with and consult her, however being a woman, of the lower social order and uneducated Mary has little possibility of recognition of succes for her contributions and is only given them by the sheer willpower and work of Elizabeth Philpot to ensure Mary's payment when possible as well as some recognition for her contributions. More later.......

No Name Woman......

So my first thought as I read this story is RAGE! Unbelieving, anger at the ignorance, the waste, the ridiculousness of such a thing. How can this happen, then, so, so sad. I think as I imagine a woman giving birth alone, so desperate, terrified with no hope, so little hope that she can kill her child as well as herself. I feel as though the author feels rage, at her Mother maybe, for telling her this story. It s a threat, a story like that for a young girl, its a way of control. Societies way of controlling women. Women's way of controlling other woman into behaving in ways that are unthreatening. She threatened them, the woman of the village. Because they know one of their men did it, and they don;t know who. This angers them, but they blame her. THE WOMAN. Nobody was running around destroying the house of the man, no one even tried to find out who it was, if it was rape, abuse, whatever. Then I'm angry because why wouldn't she just leave her village, go away, anywhere, away from these people that cut her off, shut her out. But I do think the author felt rage, for herself, on behalf of her ancestor, at her mother for perpetuating this myth, her father as well, maybe just for their very old world "Chinese-ness" I feel it in how her writing spirals, first one way, then another, searching, looking for an outlet, a reason, an imagining for some way to understand a culture she is part of yet can never understand, never identify with. She is conflicted between understanding and loving her parents yet being completely unable to understand a culture that could perpetuate such horrors. But I keep coming back to control, this is a way for people to manipulate and control other people and I sense the authors need to understand and come to terms with her own history.

last post for wench

So I finished this book over a month ago so its been hard to keep going back to it and over it to re-think what I read in January. Had I been "close reading" consciously at that point it may have been easier but I was really still doing it unconsciously and am still working on trying to do it period. Anyway, so I keep trying to rethink what really was the theme of the book. It wasn't slavery really, that would be too trite, too easily summed up because the conflicts were about slavery but yet were so similar to the conflicts of woman today that I don't think that was the real theme. Lizzies real conflict was whether or not to stay in a relationship with an unequal power structure where she is very much the "other woman". Very similar to many modern relationships that are not formed in "real slavery" but are mimicking it none the less. I think the theme is relationships, with men and with other women. When to stay and when to go, trying to figure out what you want from your life and your relationships and what you will accept in order to get it. For a book dealing with a dark subject matter the tone is fairly light. Lizzie, the narrator, is a slave but doesn't project the same despair in her station as the other woman because she loves her master. I don;t think she really feels like a slave. The only dissatisfaction you really sense from Lizzie is that she wants to make sure her children are free in case something happens to her. On the other hand, Drayles wife, Fran has gone through bouts of making Lizzies children her "pets" when she feels the need to fulfill her maternal urges. All in all Lizzie is not a dark character. She exudes a lightness not expected in such a character, a naivety bordering on simpleness. An unquestioning character, and for all that she is the most educated slave in the book she is oddly innocent compared to most of them. She accepts the fate of slavery, rape, abuse mental and physical as just part of her lot in life, in such a way that although she should be jaded from, she really isn't; and that in the end, is why she stayed, because I don;t think she really thinks of herself as a slave. She would I believe be more easily identified with the mistress of a married man today. Always being pacified, insecure in love but too in love to leave, waiting forchance to be number one.

Reading for conflict

OK, so now that I'm reading for conflict I realize there is conflict all over this book, with all the characters. Lizzie, especially and I would identify her as the main character. Lizzies conflicts are as follows:

Lizzie loves Drayle her Master and she is conflicted about this, embarrassed when Mawu's asks her.

Lizzie, is eventually conflicted about running away. Does she stay or does she go? This causes other conflict. If she goes she leaves her children behind, as slaves, even though they are Drayles children, she doesn't know how they;ll be treated or if she will ever see them again.

Lizzie is conflicted in her feelings for Mawu, she cares for her, and is a little jealous of her at the same time. Some of this conflict I think spills over into her decision to tell Drayle about Mawu.

She is internally conflicted over whether or not to tell that Mawu is planning on running away; she does tell and this causes external conflict with the other slaves and caused MAwu conflict with her Master who beats and rapes her publicly as punishment.

Lizzie is conflicted the 3rd year at Tawawa as to whether to ask Drayle to finally sell Phillip to the barber so he can marry the barbers daughter. She realizes that this favor may have penalties in regards to Drayle ever freeing her children. i.e. 1 favor of this magnitude is all Lizzie may ever be able to get.

Fran, who is Drayles wife is conflicted over her husbands affair with Lizzie and conflicted in how she feels for Lizzie. SHe both hates her (tries to sell her while Drayle is away) pinches her, is mean to her. But later in the story when Drayle finally brings them both to Tawawa house the same summer and Lizzie gives herself an "abortion" and can;t stop bleeding, Fran takes care of her and sleeps on the couch next to her so Drayle can't force himself on her while she is still recovering.

Mawu doesn't really feel any conflict regarding her slavery, she wants to run and will do it the first chance she gets, but apparently (i say apparently because this is speculation from other characters) she feels conflict about leaving Lizzie behind. The next summer when Mawu and Reenie run, Reenie goes and keeps going until she gets to NY where Mawu stay's locally in a little cabin in the woods.

Mawu's conflict was only when to run, and when she had the opportunity she pretty much set her master on fire and tried to kill him. When he was pulled out of the burning cabin still living her and Reenie run during the confusion. She knew she had to because she is pretty sure her master knows she tried to kill him. Glory knows where she is and the following summer when Lizzie comes back with Drayle and Fran, Glory takes her to see Mawu who gives her notice that she is going soon and asks Lizzie to come with her. Apparently they think Mawu was waiting for Lizzie.

This was a bad decision for Mawu because Lizzie decides not to go and then Mawu gets caught. You only ever here this from the servants at the hotel and never hear her story, so it's resolution is unsatisfying at best. Mawu's conflicts are really unresolved, Lizzie never comes, she tries to run away and only stays gone for a year before being caught. You never find out what happens to her but the assumption isnt; good.

Lizzie stays because of her children and her love for Drayle and even because her and Fran seem to have reached a certain understanding of each other. You still never get the feeling that she resolved anything in her internal conflict. You really never get the sense she wants to leave, just that the others think she should want to leave and she really only considers it because she feels like she should

Drayle may have conflict during the story in regards to whether or not to free his children (they are his bargaining chip with Lizzie) and decides not to, but at the end promises Lizzie that he will send Nate, her boy north to be educated at school for mixed blood children. But Rabbit, her daughter will stay (Rabbit will be the bargaining chip that gets Nate to come home).

Drayle decides to sell Phillips based on Lizzies speech and with holding of affection and seems resigned if not pleased in the resolution of his conflicts.

Fran seems to come to terms with Lizzie by taking care of her and pretty much admitting that she has been jealous of her relationship with Drayle and jealous that Lizzie was able to bear his children when she was not. But she seems to realize is that Lizzie's part in it may not be all "roses" and that she is part of their twisted family.

Reenies earlier conflicts the second summer was when she walks into he water and tries to kill herself (due to thecommencement of the managers late night visits). The other girls stop her so her suicidal conflict is resolved but her second conflict whether to run or not is never discussed. But when Mawu runs, so does Reenie. She gets to NY and gets job cleaning and has someone send Lizzie a letter to Tawawa house so she knows where she is and that she is ok. Conflicts resolved.

Sweet's children all die from smallpox of something back at the plantation the summer that Mawu and Reenie run, she goes a little crazy mourning them and then pretty much throws herself in a ravine and dies. So her conflicts are all resolved.

Phillip is a minor character and his conflicts are really Lizzies and he serves as a sounding board for Lizzie, but he wants to be sold and marry the barbers daughter and he is. He is living in Ohio and learning the barbering trade with his new wife. He comes back to Lizzie to give her info she will need if she decides to run. So his conflicts are resolved as is his brotherly relationship with Lizzie.

All in all analyzing this book is starting to feel like beating a dead horse. Uhhh....

broken spirits

after Mawus beating the spirits are broken 1 by 1. Phillips hopes are dashed when Drayle won;t sell him to the black barber who's daughter he is in love with, MAqu's beated, Reenie is being molested nightly. Lizzie was being cold shouldered by them all for telling. At a loss for companionship she seeks out Glory, the white Quaker woman in the woods for companionship. THis is a new and strange friendship for Lizzie who hasn;t before had an equal relationship with a white woman. Then Sweet gives birth finally but the baby is sickly and dies a few days later.

Lizzie tries to gigure out how to act with Glorys husband and reconcile her "rules on how to act with white men" when around him. All of whihc begin with "don;t look them in the eye". Glory deperatley wants a child of her own but can;t seem to conceive. All in all they end the summer in a sad place, with all of them worse off than when they went to Tawawa house.

Lizzie tells.....

So of course Lizzie tells Drayle about Mawu's plan. And says to him "Don;t let him hurt her Drayle" He says he has to tell. She says, ""talk to him and don;t let him beat her hard, just enough to keep her from__"

Lizzie feels justified for telling because she is worried about Mawu getting caught or worse during the escape. She is afraind she'll be killed or taken away in chains. But Lizzie doesn't quite get that Mawu's existence is worse than that already.

Mawu's master stands her in fron t of the slaves and 2 white women in the distance, whips her telling her that her and her children will never be free. Just as Lizzie thinks it won;t be too bad a beating, he rips off Mawus clothes until she' s naked and whips her bloody, then pushed her on to her knees and rapes her from behind. Alll Lissie can think is that here at the resort they forgot to protect themselves, they started to feel human.