"But anyway we all live in the same place, and when it's a place like North Dormer it's enough to make people hate each other just to have to walk down the same street every day." I think this quote perfectly describes the feeling for the rest of the book - a small town where everyone knows each other and resents the fact they can't get out easily and hates each other for it. Being from a small town myself, this line made me laugh because I can relate. Everyone knows everything about each other and gossip makes it's round very quickly.
"You were seen going into that fellow's house. . .you were seen coming out of it . . ." This quote relates to my first one, in the fact that gossip travels quickly, and even stranger, someone actually waited and watched for her, just to tell Mr. Royall. I think this describes the narrative of a girl should be married and shouldn't do as she pleases, like go to see a friend - a guy friend - at nighttime. Even Mr. Royall calls her a "damn whore" later, just out of suspicion due to her appearance.
I also noticed the marriage narrative later on. Even though Charity is about independence and doesn't care what people think, she finds herself thinking about Harney that way. On page 93 she thinks "with ten dollars he might have bought her an engagement ring. . ." but quickly realizes it and tells herself they're just friends. I think that's interesting. . .something to look for as the book continues.
"You were seen going into that fellow's house. . .you were seen coming out of it . . ." This quote relates to my first one, in the fact that gossip travels quickly, and even stranger, someone actually waited and watched for her, just to tell Mr. Royall. I think this describes the narrative of a girl should be married and shouldn't do as she pleases, like go to see a friend - a guy friend - at nighttime. Even Mr. Royall calls her a "damn whore" later, just out of suspicion due to her appearance.
I also noticed the marriage narrative later on. Even though Charity is about independence and doesn't care what people think, she finds herself thinking about Harney that way. On page 93 she thinks "with ten dollars he might have bought her an engagement ring. . ." but quickly realizes it and tells herself they're just friends. I think that's interesting. . .something to look for as the book continues.
posted by Megan Thiele at 12:54 AM
1 Comments:
I had to laugh at that quote too, because I'm also from a small town. That quote reminded me of the pettiness of living in a small town, but in other sections of the book there are quotes and scenes that really portray how the small town gossip can really be hurtful to a person. For instance, when Charity was watching Harney through the window, the situation was totally twisted to make her look like she was doing wrong. Another instance was the fact that she had to flee to the mountains when she found out she was pregnant, just so she would not have to face the taunts of the people and not have to face being pretty much shunned from the community.
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