Values: An Analysis of Plainsong
Kent Haruf's novel Plainsong, is a collection of characters and their struggles with an event or events that leave their life changed forever. Using the ideal of values, the reader can discern numerous instances of this ideal and how it impacts the characters and their stories. Analyzing the character of Victoria Rubideaux, the idea of values can be seen in her eviction from her home, her rescue by Maggie Jones, and her new home with the McPherons. Additionally, her search for her unborn child's father also speaks to this theme.
Victoria is a high school junior, who has just ended a summer romance with Dwayne, a fellow student that left her for his life in Denver, Colorado. As her narrative begins, she is
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experiencing flu-like symptoms that prompt her caretakers that she should see a doctor. Once at the doctor, Victoria is examined, and the doctor informs her that she is pregnant. Victoria, in shock from the news, listens to the doctor as he describes her options for her baby. The doctor, then asks a very blunt question, to which Victoria is taken aback. "Miss Roubideaux, he said. Do you want this baby" (Haruf 76)? She is quite adamant in her response, stating, "Yes, she said. I want it" (Haruf 76). This is telling of her values regarding motherhood, as even though she is offered abortion and adoption, she is adamant in her resolve to keep and raise her baby. Another aspect of values that relates to Victoria's situation is that of family values, and more specifically, how they relate to teen pregnancy.
Victoria's mother, clearly set in the values of her generation, evicts Victoria and disowns her for her actions and her secrecy. This is very common for this generation of teenage mothers and their parents' reactions to them. Michelle Chino, a professor of Psychology, notes this specific reaction in her interview reflections. Upon talking to teen mothers she found that many teen mothers met stiff opposition to their pregnancy from their mothers. Much like Victoria's mother, and her doctor, the teenage mothers interviewed for her research experiences experienced shunning for their own mothers, "In spite of disappointment, shock and disapproval expressed by some of their mothers" (Chino 11). The mothers of these teens reacted very similarly to Victoria's mother, which is indicative of the societal norms and values, as well as expectations for the next …show more content…
generation. It is noted that due to teen pregnancy, mothers are forced to make decisions either for or against their daughters and their new reality. In the case of Victoria, her mother seemingly acted against her, by disowning her and evicting her from her home. This can be characterized as antagonistic to the teen mother, but if one were to look at it through the values of self reliance, Victoria's mother was clearly trying to make Victoria "wake up" and realize the gravity of her new situation. Dr. Chino notes that teen mothers of the younger generation have a far greater support system, that Victoria lacked. It, "was the extensive child-care support provided by the family, school and government. These support sources did not disrupt the life of the teenage girls. Usually there was a family member who looked after the baby in the absence of the teen mother" (Chino 12). Victoria, unlike the youth of the younger generation, did not possess or receive the support that these teen mothers received. It was ultimately due to her eviction for her mother's house and the lack of support from her, that Victoria "sobered up" to the idea of mother hood. Another topic of analysis using values is that of expectations for the youth of society. Using Victoria's mother as an example, the results from Victoria's pregnancy admittance, quite evidently show this trait. Victoria, was a teenager with a bright future ahead of her, and her mother, wanted the best for her daughter. But when she found out that Victoria was pregnant, these expectations and hopes for a better life for her daughter were destroyed. In fact, as noted by Patricia East, a research scientist, in her academic journal article, Association Between Adolescent Pregnancy And a Family History of Teenage Births, teen births often very negatively affect the life of the parent, "teenage birth is more likely than a mother’s to negatively and directly affect adolescents’ day-to-day lives, by causing increased family strain, tension and disruption" (East 2). It is this disruption that led Victoria to become homeless, socially and financially disadvantaged, as well as scared for her future. East further notes that the introduction of a teen pregnancy almost always results as detrimental to a young mother's life, "adolescent childbearing is associated with numerous problematic outcomes, including chronic socioeconomic disadvantage, lower educational attainment, marital instability and children’s behavioral problems" (East 2). Using the ideal of values, we can yet again, find values that influence the actions of characters in Victoria's life. Maggie Jones, Victoria's friend and employer, stepped up, through no external pressure, and acted as a protector for Victoria and her unborn child. It was at Maggie's insistence, not her mothers, that she visit the doctor to see what is wrong, and after her pregnancy was discovered, and Victoria was evicted, Maggie sought to find a place for her to stay. It is example of values, particularly the values of right and wrong , and the responsibility to look out for the youth, that truly sets Victoria straight, and forces her to come to terms with her situation and how best to overcome the challenges that beset her. It is clearly seen by the example of Maggie and Victoria's mother, that the values and expectations of society and parents are often very different. Maggie was very supportive and understanding of Victoria's situation and sough to aid her in any way she could. Victoria's mother, set in her old way of thinking and values, refuses to even allow Victoria to live with her. Partly due to her own experiences as a single mother, and partly due to the realization that Victoria was headed for a bleak future, her mother reacted very negatively to the new reality that faces Victoria. Angela Harden, a professor of family health, notes this reality in her study. She finds that even though support systems exist for teen mothers, it is often the mother of the teen that has the greatest impact on the success or failure of the teen and her child. "Young parents noted how they had to “grow up faster” in order to survive, and also reported a lack of confidence, low self esteem, and high anxiety levels. Some young women saw having a baby at an early age as a way to change their circumstances and ameliorate the effects of adversity" (Harden). Kent Haruf, in writing Plainsong, was truly retelling the stories and experiences of his youth.
The characters in his novel all coexist in a familial state, as characters displaced or abandoned find family in unlikely sources in their community. "Haruf's beautifully spare prose is the perfect vehicle for describing the poignancy of their lives, particularly the relationship of Victoria and the McPherson brothers with whom she goes to live. The sharing of these fractured lives in meaningful new family relationships after the old relationships are broken is the heart of this novel" (LaHood). Clearly values are a driving force for the novel as numerous different character's in Victoria's life, break up her family, and through this destruction a new family is born. Values of right and wrong, family values, expectation for the youth, are all clearly present in this novel. It is to the betterment of the reader that we analyze Victoria's life and the surrounding characters' impact on it, so as to draw comparisons to our lives and
interactions.
The diverse alternation of point of views also provides the story an effective way to reach out to readers and be felt. The characterisation is effectively done and applied as Sam, Grace, and the other supporting characters play individual, crucial roles in the course of the story. All the elements of a typical young adult novel, consisting of a gap-filled relationship between children and parents, emotion-driven teenagers, and a unique conflict that makes the book distinct from fellow novels, combined with the dangerous consequences of the challenges the couple encounter, make the book different from all other of the same genre. The plot unfolds slowly giving readers enough time to adjust and anticipate the heavy conflict when it arises. It has gotten us so hooked but the only thing we could possibly dislike about it was the slow pace of plot. The anticipation was too much to handle and we were practically buzzing and bouncing to know how the story turns out as we read. It builds the anticipation, excitement, thrill, sadness, grief, loss, and longing in such an effective way to entice and hook readers further into the world of Sam and
Gary’s House, Debra Oswald, features the story of an Aussie couple facing the reality of adversity. Oswald has represented common beliefs and representations through the four protagonists mainly focusing on Gary and Dave. Many beliefs and values in the book symbolize the dominant stereotypes of an average Australian. Oswald explores the concept of an Aussie battler and how it perpetuates and challenges the common stereotype of Australians.
“I looked anxiously. I didn’t see anybody… I’d keep my head up and my eyes open-`You got a smoke to spare?’” (Walters 3) In Shattered, Eric Walters hauls the reader through the life of Ian, the protagonist who experiences the joy of helping others. Throughout the white pine award novel, Ian is continually helping people around him realize that their life isn’t perfect and they ought to alter it somewhat. Furthermore, the author carefully compares the significance of family and how importance they are to everyone’s life. Right through the book, Eric Walters demonstrates the theme of compassion through the use of Ian helping Jack overcome his drinking problems, showing Berta the value of patriot and always there for the less fortunate.
In John Connolly’s novel, The Book of Lost Things, he writes, “for in every adult there dwells the child that was, and in every child there lies the adult that will be”. Does one’s childhood truly have an effect on the person one someday becomes? In Jeannette Walls’ memoir The Glass Castle and Khaled Hosseini’s novel The Kite Runner, this question is tackled through the recounting of Jeannette and Amir’s childhoods from the perspectives of their older, more developed selves. In the novels, an emphasis is placed on the dynamics of the relationships Jeannette and Amir have with their fathers while growing up, and the effects that these relations have on the people they each become. The environment to which they are both exposed as children is also described, and proves to have an influence on the characteristics of Jeannette and Amir’s adult personalities. Finally, through the journeys of other people in Jeannette and Amir’s lives, it is demonstrated that the sustainment of traumatic experiences as a child also has a large influence on the development of one’s character while become an adult. Therefore, through the analysis of the effects of these factors on various characters’ development, it is proven that the experiences and realities that one endures as a child ultimately shape one’s identity in the future.
Throughout the novel, crucial family members and friends of the girl that died are meticulously reshaped by her absence. Lindsey, the sister, outgrows her timidity and develops a brave, fearless demeanor, while at the same time she glows with independence. Abigail, the mother, frees herself from the barbed wire that protected her loved ones yet caused her great pain, as well as learns that withdrawing oneself from their role in society may be the most favorable choice. Ruth, the remote friend from school, determines her career that will last a lifetime. and escapes from the dark place that she was drowning in before. Thus, next time one is overcome with grief, they must remember that constructive change is guaranteed to
...common in human beings, and the demonstrations that have been considered in this term paper are not the only examples that live in the novel that call up the difficulty of considering with change. believe about Holden lowering out of yet another school, Holden departing Pencey Prep and, for a while, dwelling life in the cold streets of New York town all by his lonesome. The book ends abruptly, and gathering condemnation of it is not rare. It's an odd cliffhanger, not because of the way it's in writing, but because of a individual desire to glimpse what Holden finishes up doing with his life. Perhaps, as he augments up, he'll learn to contend better through change. Imagine the death of Phoebe, decisively an event that would be similar to Allie's tragic demise. if an older Holden would reply the identical as did a junior one, is a inquiry still searching for an answer.
The lack of support and affection protagonists, Sula Peace and Nel Wright, causes them to construct their lives on their own without a motherly figure. Toni Morrison’s novel, Sula, displays the development of Sula and Nel through childhood into adulthood. Before Sula and Nel enter the story, Morrison describes the history of the Peace and Wright family. The Peace family live abnormally to their town of Medallion, Ohio. Whereas the Wrights have a conventional life style, living up to society’s expectations.The importance of a healthy mother-daughter relationship is shown through the interactions of Eva and Hannah Peace, Hannah and Sula, and between Helene Wright and Nel. When Sula and Nel become friends they realize the improper parenting they
Obstacles are present within everybody’s travails through life. No matter the complexity of a problem one faces, it is something that will indisputably have to be completed. Although some predicaments may be more severe than others, the reactions and responses to them will ultimately determine the outcome. At a point of Kent Haruf’s National Book Award Finalist, Plainsong, one of the main characters, Victoria Roubideaux, witnessed an event that minor characters took part in, which unknowingly represented her primary internal conflict throughout the novel.
The novel Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones is the story of two families with the same father, a bigamist. Chaurisse and her mother Laverne, James Witherspoon 's first wife, have no idea the other family exists. Dana and her mother are part of his secret life, playing second fiddle to the family they share their father/husband with. The novel presents a wide variety of instances where intersections between gender, race, or class influence a character’s life. This novel shows how the identity of people change through the course of life and how it affects their interaction with other people in life. Dana is the daughter of James Witherspoon and Gwendolyn. However,
Sociology relates to this novel in so many different ways. The family in the story, Flowers in the Attic, written by V.C. Andrews, starts off as a family of procreation, a family established through marriage, which includes the mother (Mrs. Dollanger), the father (Mr. Dollanger), and the four children: Cathy (the oldest daughter), Chris (the second oldest son), Carrie and Corey (the young twins). A conflict begins when the father dies in a car wreck, so the mother and her four children must move in her rich parents estate because they have no money and nowhere to stay. After the father's death, the norms of the children changed. The norms of the children were to stay hidden in the basement by them selves because Mrs. Dollanger may only earn back the right to inherit her father's estate by falsifying that she has no children by her husband who was also her half-uncle. The original agreement was that they can leave the basement when their grandfather dies. The rules of the house were given by the dying grandfather that stated if Mrs. Dollanger was found to have children that she would be disinherited again.
...these were important points made in this book. All of these things were illustrated by Torey and Sheila. They were very close friends and had a relationship that was similar to that of a mother and daughter. They loved each other for their personality and the things they did. Torey cared for Sheila so much that she did everything she could to help her out. Sheila was grateful for this and I think that's about caring.
Adolescence is the point in a person’s life that plays a vital role in the formation of the man or woman they are to become. Not every journey or experience is the same, but every girl and boy has to go through it to officially be ushered into the adult world. For a young lady, the most important thing in her journey to womanhood is her mother. The mother plays the role in guiding her daughter through her adolescent experiences in a healthy way. She is able to use her experiences to teach her daughter but also allow her daughter to learn from her own mistakes and make her experience her own. In the novel Carrie written by Stephen King and the television series Gilmore Girls created by Amy Sherman-Palladino, there are two examples of mother/daughter relationships and the effects the mothers had on their daughter’s transitions through adolescence into adulthood. The two relationships differ because of maternal and community support, maternal guidance and teachings to the daughter on how to be a woman, parenting styles, and honesty about the mistakes the mother’s made. The relationships are similar because both girls are in high school,
... with an uptight boyfriend, a mother who wants her to be perfect, and a job at the library that she despises. “In their minds {library co-workers}, I didn’t belong there” (44). “{Jason’s email} ‘I’m concerned that you’re not putting your full attention into the job’” (47). As the book goes on, Macy opens up, and starts working at Wish Catering all of the sudden. Also, her new friendship with Wes deepens gradually, and the process is expressed with adventures and stories that make you want to read on. At the very end of the novel, during the falling action, Macy gets over her grief and has a new perspective on what truly being happy and living your life is, shown here: “Forever was just so many different things. It was always changing, it was what everything was really all about” (374). The author, Sarah Dessen, provides closure and ties the novel into real life.
In this book review I represent and analyze the three themes I found the most significant in the novel.
...les, states, “Up until now, older first-time mothers have been offered little guidance in resolving this clash of needs and were left feeling guilty, confused, and privately ashamed”. I am from a late pregnancy, and I feel my mother does not understand me. I think she is from another generation, and she always compares my actions with hers when she was in my age. Pregnancy has its own perfect age and women should be aware of that.