Rhapsody In The Rain Dialectical Journal

The passage above is on page 240 within chapter 28. Earlier on in this chapter Nomi describes what has happened, regarding the fact that her father just left. Not only has her father left now but her mother, sister, boyfriend, and best friend, have all left leaving her all alone. On top of that all, she has now been excommunicated from her small town. The beginning of this chapter introduces another obstacle she will have to over come, and this passage is the beginning of Nomi understanding that she has to now step up to the plate and be responsible for what is going on around her. This passage changes the way the reader may have though she would react in this situation. I though that she would have had a break down or ran away just like everyone else did. But the quote has a very clam tone which led me to eventually think other wise.

Previously in the novel, we are introduced to the idea that her father may not be happy.

The text does not directly state this but by reading deeper the reader is able to analyze his actions. He is often found just sitting in his lawn chair staring out at the highway. Or sell their furniture, which often leaves Nomi questioning her father sanity. This quotes occurs as the novel is coming to an end. She has just found the note left from her father, and she is now realizing everything that is going on around her. As Nomi sits in her father's lawn chair and stairs at the highway, she thinks. She thinks about what her father will be doing while he is away and what she will do while she is alone all the time. Although she is focusing on the positives - thinking her father will return. She is also reassuring herself that if everything does not work out and her father does not come back she has to figure out a way to stop and

breath.

when reading the passage the reader may conclude that Nomi is finally coming to a point where she can accept everything that has happened up to here. Nomi knows that everything her father has done is for her, from leaving her a note with everything she needs, to leaving her by herself. He knows that she would be okay if her left, even if he never comes back. Nomi is able to keep herself sane and keep her hopes high by knowing her and her father will always be connected, even if they are not together. Nomi thinks to herself that what ever happens she has to become a strong, independent person, and she knows that there is a good chance her father will not come back, just like Trudie and Tish.