A Complicated Kindness Analysis

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It is evident in The Virgin Suicides and A Complicated Kindness that the restrictions religion puts in place cause the youth of each text to rebel against the religious system. In A Complicated Kindness, it is made clear from the beginning that there is a “ban on the media, dancing, smoking , temperate climates, movies, drinking, rock ‘n’ roll, having sex for fun, swimming, makeup, jewellery, playing pool, going to cities, or staying up past nine o’ clock” (page). These strict beliefs and rules lead Nomi to rebel. For example, Nomi takes up smoking and drinking, and has pre marital sex with her boyfriend Travis. Additionally, Nomi wears a bonnet for the Mennonite church service, but later burns it with her cigarette. This demonstrates her defiance …show more content…

In relation to The Virgin Suicides, the Lisbon girls believe that the only way they can escape the confines of their strict religious household and the pain of losing their younger sister is by death. Similarly, death occurs in The Ice Storm. As a contrast to The Virgin Suicides, where death is a choice, death is not chosen by Mike. However, it is the fate that was chosen for him. His death within the text sparks beauty as he is enchanted by the beauty of the sparkling ice over the fields and trees. However, this beautiful yet lonely moment for Mike ends in despair as he sits on a rail and is electrocuted by the power line touching the rail (Moody, 213). It appears that Mike is the character that connects the remaining characters together once he has died. As a result, his death causes personal consequences and effects on the lives of those that are left behind. Though his death is negative, it brings together both the Hood family and the Carver family. Through this tragic event, both families learn that their issues are insignificant and they have to come together as a family to work out their problems. However, this family resolve that is evident within The Ice Storm does not exist within The Virgin Suicides and A Complicated kindness because of death and

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