Too Soon A Woman

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Imagine what it would be like to be an eighteen-year-old woman who is brutally beaten by her employer, but then finds a safe shelter with a family who she knows absolutely nothing about. In the story, “Too Soon A Woman,” written by Dorothy M. Johnson, Mary is a young lady who hitched a ride with a family of four, two young girls, and eleven-year-old boy, and the father of the children. She was left in charge of the children for approximately four days. Her actions within those four days gave her a good reputation and led her to live a life of happiness. Mary had three primary character traits that make her who she is. Mary was an extremely independent, brave, and mature adolescent who risked her life for a few she kids that she had little to no knowledge about at all.

Towards the beginning of the story, Mary demonstrates that she is incredibly independent young woman. According to the text, Mary sternly says to Pa, “I’d rather go with a family and look after kids..but I ain’t going back. If you won’t take me, I’ll travel with …show more content…

Mary’s maturity is evident when the text explains, “Mary stood up. She was holding the can with porcupine grease. ‘I’m going to eat,’ she said cooly.” (Johnson 117) This piece from the text shows how Mary is mature because from that moment, Mary knew she had to risk her life for the children. She had to make an adult decision that people her age would not normally would not have to go through. Mary also demonstrates her maturity when the short story tells, “Tomorrow’, Mary answered. ‘But not tonight.’ She turned to me with a sharp command: ‘Don’t bother me! Just leave me be.” (Johnson 117) Mary’s maturity is displayed here since she has no sympathy for the children when they were craving the food in her hands. She kept her mindset, just like a much older adult would, and did not let the children have any of the divine-smelling mushroom before she knew it was safe or not to

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