The Importance Of Words In Margaret Laurence's Manawaka

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A child growing up on the prairies, and trying to understand the world around her during the great depression. The prairies have a profound effect on the author Margaret Laurence, writing through the eyes of a young adventurist Vanessa. Vanessa’s adventurist nature allows her to experiment with words and emotions. She analyzes her surroundings and tries to make sense of the way words are used in her small town of Manawaka. Manawaka might be small, but it has a large impact on the life of Vanessa. Through words Vanessa expresses her desire to express opinions, utilize expressions, and rationalize emotions.

Vanessa is consistently looking for words to express how she feels. Feeling is something that she has trouble describing to those around her, especially when she feels strongly about an event. An event that sticks out to Vanessa most is the Remembrance Day parade, which she does not want to go to. The reason she does not want to go is because the outfits in the parade …show more content…

Vanessa took it tough when her father died because she couldn’t understand what people were saying as he was saved, and that he is going to heaven. Vanessa finally lashes out “shut up… he didn’t need to be saved”, her father meant a lot to her, why would he need to be saved (93). Whether Vanessa meant these words is not known, she still is playing around with words. Vanessa’s feelings are still evident and in this manner it is her emotions that take over and cause her to use words she might not have meant. She meant what was best for her father, but how can Vanessa rationalize where he went if she still is trying to understand words. Understanding words is what this all comes down too, Vanessa uses the most pungent words she can in this situation because they express her feelings at the time. Spur of the moment feelings are something we see from Vanessa, feelings that are expressed through strong

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