This book definitely is a way to share what its like for some children to be abused by older "family" members. The main character is abused by her mother's love. He is not her real father. The main character is a little girl called Bone. Bone's abuser does it and blames it on "loving her." He says he loves her so he feels he has the right to physically discipline her.
Bones mother loves the guy a lot and even though it is pretty obvious what is happening, she can not leave him. I also think it’s odd that her mother doesn’t really do much to make Bone feel better. Bone at some points believes she deserves the wrath that the mothers’ lover inflicts on her.
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Bastard Out of Carolina
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6 comments:
It is sad that Anney never stepped in to help or save Bone. Her solution was to just send Bone away and forget about it. However, the abuse was always waiting for Bone to return. In a way, Bone could have saved herself. If she has just told one aunt or uncle, Glen would be out of the picture sooner. I also found it interesting that Reese never said anything to any of the other relatives. When the abuse first happened she was young, and she knew what was going on. Most of the time young children don't know any better and blurt things out.
Anney really needs to get her act together and work to make sure that Bone is not hurt further. It is obvious that Anney knows what is going on, but is far too weak to help Bone. If the physical abuse that Bone is being subjected to isn’t enough, the sexual abuse should surely be a factor that should make Anney leave Glen. When Anney went back to Glen, I was wishing that Anney knew what was going on in Bones mind. Maybe that would make her think differently about the situation they were in. Anney doesn’t seem to want to know what is happening with Bone. She seems to ignore the situation in order to preserve her relationship. It is hard to believe that Anney really values her relationship with Glen, but it appears that she really is that desperate and insecure.
I think you bring up some good points. Anney never steps in between Glen and Bone when the physical abuse happens. I think that she had a perfect opportunity too but when Glen turns to her after he beats Bone and says,i'm doing this becaue i love her and somebody needs her to be there for her, i think Anney should have stepped in here and been like she's not yours to punish that is my job. I think that Anney is just scared of losing the male figure in her life. She needs that love and affection, but it's hard for her to pick because it is her kids versus the love she needs.
I thought that it was really interesting that Anney does comfort Bone after the abuse while she is still with Glen. However, once Anney leaves Glen, the comfort that Bone receives from Anney is gone.
I think that this scenario is very similiar to "A Streetcar Named Desire." I think that like Stella, Anney just didn't want to believe that Glen was abusing her daughter in anyway, because then she knew that she couldn't be with him. This is just like Stella refusing to believe Blanche because then she would feel obligated to leave her husband. I think that this has a lot to do with the fact that during this time period (and still in some places), women are dependent on men. It is like they are brainwashed to think that their survival is pending on their mate's resources.
I had a hard time understanding why Anney never did anything to protect Bone, or to comfort her. I mean, it's one thing to not leave Glen because you feel dependent on him and his love. But it's another thing to be so distant from your child that she is constantly wondering if she deserves this punishment. I had a very hard time feeling sympathy, or even understanding how Allison expected us as readers to feel sorry Anney. I really think that I would completely hate my mother after all was said and done, and I almost wished Bone would have said she hated Anney just once.
I also wondered why Anney never noticed the abuse. She should have seen the warning signs, but she was to caught up in her love for Glen to notice. Bones should have never had to live that kind of childhood, and it makes me wonder why Reeses was never abused.
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