The Robber Bride Study Guide

8/10/2019 The Robber Bride Study Guide

1/86

The Robber Bride Study Guide

The Robber Bride by Margaret Atwood

(c)2014 BookRags, Inc. All rights reserved.


2/86

Contents

The Robber Bride Std! "ide .................................................................................................... 1

The Robber Bride b! #argaret At$ood ................................................................................... 1

%ontents ...................................................................................................................................... 2

&lot S''ar! ..............................................................................................................................

nset, %ha*ter 1 ......................................................................................................................... +

nset, %ha*ter 1 S''ar! ..................................................................................................... +

nset, %ha*ter 1 Anal!sis ....................................................................................................... +

The Toi-e, %ha*ters 21/ .........................................................................................................

The Toi-e, %ha*ters 21/ S''ar! ....................................................................................

The Toi-e, %ha*ters 21/ Anal!sis .................................................................................... 1

Black na'el, %ha*ters 1+2+ .................................................................................................. 1+

Black na'el, %ha*ters 1+2+ S''ar! .............................................................................. 1+

Black na'el, %ha*ters 1+2+ Anal!sis ................................................................................ 2

easel 3ights, %ha*ters 2 ................................................................................................. 2+

easel 3ights, %ha*ters 2 S''ar! ............................................................................. 2+

easel 3ights, %ha*ters 2 Anal!sis ...............................................................................

The Robber Bride, %ha*ters 545 ............................................................................................ 4

The Robber Bride, %ha*ters 545 S''ar! ....................................................................... 4

The Robber Bride, %ha*ters 545 Anal!sis .......................................................................... 41

The Toi-e, %ha*ters 0 ..................................................................................................... 4

The Toi-e, %ha*ters 0 S''ar! ................................................................................ 4

The Toi-e, %ha*ters 0 Anal!sis ..................................................................................

tco'e, %ha*ters /+ .......................................................................................................... 4

tco'e, %ha*ters /+ S''ar! ..................................................................................... 4

tco'e, %ha*ters /+ Anal!sis .......................................................................................

2


3/86

%haracters ................................................................................................................................. /

Ton! 6re'ont ........................................................................................................................ /

Ro7 Andre$s, nee "rn$ald ("reen$ood) ........................................................................... /

%haris (8aren) ....................................................................................................................... +

9enia .....................................................................................................................................

est......................................................................................................................................

#itch Andre$s ....................................................................................................................... 5

Bill! ....................................................................................................................................... 5

Anthea 6re'ont..................................................................................................................... /0

"ri:: 6re'ont......................................................................................................................... /0

"loria .................................................................................................................................... /0

%haris;s "rand'other ........................................................................................................... /1

ects?&laces ........................................................................................................................... /2

The Toi-e ........................................................................................................................... /2

8a:a! 3$ar ............................................................................................................................ /2

Radiance ............................................................................................................................... /2

Scri'*ers .............................................................................................................................. /2

#c%lng @all......................................................................................................................... /2

Third 6loor, @ead$inds ......................................................................................................... /2

The Island ............................................................................................................................. /2

The 6err! ............................................................................................................................... /

The Arnold "arden @otel....................................................................................................... /

The 6ontain ......................................................................................................................... /

Social %oncerns ......................................................................................................................... /4

Techni-es ................................................................................................................................. //


4/86

The'es ...................................................................................................................................... /

Signi:icant To*ics ....................................................................................................................... +0

ar ........................................................................................................................................ +0

Sicide .................................................................................................................................. +0

#adonna? hore %o'*le .................................................................................................... +1

St!le ........................................................................................................................................... +

&oint o: =ie$ ......................................................................................................................... +

Setting ................................................................................................................................... +

angage and #eaning ......................................................................................................... +4

Strctre ................................................................................................................................ +4

otes ....................................................................................................................................... +/

8e! estions ........................................................................................................................... +5

To*ics :or Ciscssion ................................................................................................................. 2

iterar! &recedents ....................................................................................................................

Related Titles .............................................................................................................................

%o*!right In:or'ation ................................................................................................................. /

4


5/86

Plot Summary

The Robber Brideo::ers a startlingl! h'an look at the nderl!ing reasons and resltso: the :e'inist 'ove'ent o: the 15/0s. The novel inter$eaves the stories o: its three

:e'ale *rotagonists as it *ieces together the histor! o: their co''on ene'!, 9enia.Ton!, a histor! *ro:essor $ho s*eciali7es in battles, sets ot to chronicle 9enia;s li:estor! as a series o: battles. 9enia 'a! not have been a$are she $as :ighting battles,ackno$ledges Ton!, bt she le:t devastation in her $ake $herever she $ent. Ton! andher :riends, Ro7 and %haris, have the 'is:ortne o: 'eeting * $ith 9enia at college.@ad the! not all beco'e victi's o: 9enia, Ton!, Ro7 and %haris $old have 'adenlikel! :riends, bt their shared *ain gives the' a co''on bond a:ter 9enia 'akes o::,one b! one, $ith each o: their hsbands.

Ton! likens 9enia;s betra!al to a 'gging. It see'ed to Ton! at the ti'e as i: 9enia had>st $alked right in, tcked Ton!;s hsband, est, nder her ar' and 'arched hi' ot

the door. : her three :riends, Ton! is the onl! one $ho 'anages to retrieve her 'an.%haris;s bo!:riend Bill!, the :ather o: her child, sails o:: $ith 9enia and is never heard:ro' again. %haris $onders :or t$ent! !ears i: Bill! is alive or dead. Ro7, ho$ever,doesn;t have the lr! o: $ondering. She kno$s her hsband is dead becase hisbod! $ashes * on the shore. #itch Andre$s co''its sicide a:ter being d'*ed b!9enia, and Ro7 s*ends :ive !ears agoni7ing $hether his death cold have been*revented had she taken hi' back instead o: sla''ing the door in his *hilandering:ace.

9enia is no 'ere 'anstealer. She is a black'ailer etraordinaire, a brilliant liar and acoldhearted 'ani*lator. @er histor! is littered $ith the tra'*led bodies over $hich shehas trodden on her $a! to the to*. She takes over Ro7;s 'aga7ine b! l!ing abot hercredentials and char'ing the 'ale board 'e'bers, and she threatens to end Ton!;scareer $ith an incri'inating ter' *a*er that she convinced Ton! to $rite :or her back incollege. 9enia has a see'ingl! botto'less bag o: tricks, $hich incldes co'ing back:ro' the dead.

The novel o*ens $ith 9enia;s retrn. Ton!, Ro7 and %haris all attended her :neral :ive!ears *rior, and !et $hen the! see 9enia $alk into the restarant $here the! are havinglnch, none o: the' is sr*rised. 9enia;s histor! $ith each $o'an is revealed in aseries o: :lashbacks. B! the ti'e the reader has been broght * to date, a $eek has*assed in the *resentda! ti'eline, and the three *rotagonists *re*are the'selves :or acon:rontation $ith 9enia. ach o: the $o'en is accorded a :inal sho$do$n $ith 9enia in

her hotel roo'. That night, 9enia;s bod! is discovered in the :ontain belo$ her hotelroo' $indo$. This ti'e, 9enia is de:initel! dead.

The death re'ains a '!ster! to the end. ach o: the three *rotagonists has the 'otiveand the 'eans to do a$a! $ith 9enia, bt so do *lent! o: other *eo*le. 3o clearsoltion is reached. Ton!, the historian, notes that histor! is o:ten inconclsive. Thedead are in the hands o: the living. 9enia $as al$a!s a $orth! o**onent, and Ton!ad'ires her corage. She believes that 9enia;s li:e deserves to be chronicled, as i: b!


6/86

honoring the strength o: her o**onent, Ton! honors hersel: and her o$n li:e. In the end,all three $o'en :ind the'selves strangel! grate:l to 9enia :or hel*ing the' de:ine $hothe! are and $hat the! stand :or.

/


7/86

Onset, Chapter 1

Onset, Chapter 1 Summary

Chapter 1D Ton! searches :or a starting *oint :or the stor! o: 9enia;s li:e. 9enia has liedso o:ten and so sccess:ll! abot her :a'il! origins that Ton! cannot be certain o: thetrth. It is too late to ask 9enia, and 9enia $old not tell the trth an!$a!. Ton! $ondersi: there is an! *oint in nraveling 9enia;s co'*licated stor! at this late date. Theda'age cased b! 9enia has alread! been done. Eet as a historian, Ton! believes thatsch realli:e *77les can be solved. FShe has a historian;s belie: in the saltar! *o$ero: e*lanations.F (*g. 4) Ths, Ton! decides to begin her stor! on ctober 2, 1550, theda! 9enia retrns :ro' the dead.

Onset, Chapter 1 Analysis

In this brie: section, the athor establishes the tone and st!le o: the novel. Althogh thenovel $ill also be reconted :ro' Ton!;s :riends; *oint o: vie$, Ton! is the historian. Shegathers together the *ieces and asse'bles a coherent historical narrative o: 9enia;s li:e.Ton! is the one $ho $ill si:t throgh the varios acconts and the :e$ kno$n :acts in anatte'*t to nderstand 9enia. Eet, the athor also $arns the reader, throgh Ton!;scharacter, that this accont $ill be sb>ective and inconclsive, as nearl! all histor! is.

+


8/86

The Toi!ue, Chapters "#1$

The Toi!ue, Chapters "#1$ Summary

Chapter 2D Ton! $akes * as sal at sithirt!. As sal, she trns to look at est, the'an slee*ing beside her. Ton! re>oices in the 'iracle o: his eistence and his *resencein her li:e. FCes*ite ever!thing, des*ite 9enia, he;s still here.F (*g. +) To avoid $akingest, Ton! sli*s -ietl! into her robe and tattered raccoon sli**ers, and then she sli*sdo$n the hall to her std! in ti'e to catch the snrise. In her std!, the histor! booksshe;s athored line the shelves, as do her :avorite, dogeared historical *a*ers andtetbooks. Ton! s*ends an hor, as sal, 'arking her stdent;s *a*ers $ith herthorogh, colorcoded techni-e. To avoid boredo', she likes to read an occasionalsentence back$ards, $ith both $ord and letter order reversed.

B! -arter to eight, Ton! :inishes in ti'e to catch the garbage trck. She 'akes est a

c* o: tea in the *ainstaking $a! she $as taght b! her 'other.


9/86

Chapter 4D A:ter break:ast, est goes to $ork in his third :loor std!, $here he *racticesthe art o: 'sicolog! nder the trade na'e @ead$inds. Ton! selects a green ra!onot:it that she boght in the children;s section, $here she gets 'an! o: her clothes. Shekno$s no 'atter $hat she chooses to $ear, Ro7 $ill disa**rove and $ant to take hersho**ing. @o$ever, Ton! *re:ers to save her 'one! :or visits to ro*ean

battlegronds, $here she likes to collect :lo$er relics :ro' each site. Ton! kee*s thiscollection a secret :ro' her colleages, :or the! $old not nderstand, and Ton! hersel:scarcel! nderstands $h! she :eels this need to co''e'orate the battlegrond dead.She $aves goodb!e to est and care:ll! locks the :ront door behind her. It co':ortsher to kno$ that est is sa:e inside the hose. It is an older =ictorian ho'e that $oldlook 'ore at ho'e $ith a 'oat and dra$bridge than $ith its scraggl!, nke'*t la$n.

Ton! eits the sb$a! and heads to$ards her o::ice on ca'*s in a ding! bildingcalled #c%lng @all. nce, #c%lng @all $as a $o'en;s residence, and Ton! livedthere :or si !ears $hile earning her degrees. Ces*ite its dor a**earance, Ton! hasal$a!s thoght o: #c%lng as a haven. She *ases at her old roo', no$ the sta::co::ee roo', and greets t$o o: her colleages. Crs. Ackro!d and &i'lott clstercons*iratoriall! arond their co::ee 'gs, and Ton! $onders i: the! are having an a::airor *erha*s cooking * an intero::ice *olitical *lot. FThe $hole de*art'ent is like aRenaissance cortD $his*erings, gangings*, *ett! treacheries, snits, and 'brage.Ton! tries to sta! ot o: it bt scceeds onl! so'eti'es. She has no *articlar allies andis there:ore ss*ected b! all.F (*g. 21) Both her 'ale and :e'ale colleages :ind itstrange that she s*eciali7es in the histor! o: $ar:are. Ton! believes that her tin! si7ehas hel*ed her gain acce*tance in the 'ale $orld o: s*ears, arro$s, s$ords and gns.@ad she been taller, her 'ale colleages 'ight have :ond her invasion o: their territor!'ore threatening.

Ton! has a large o::ice :itted $ith otdated technolog! and several o: her :avorite histor!

vol'es. n the $alls, a serios *ortrait o: "eneral ol:e is acco'*anied b! a gag gi:t*resented to her b! her stdentsD a *ortrait o: ol:e taking a leak. The cartoon is anho'age to Ton!;s annal lectre abot the technolog! o: :l!:ront :astenings. Thish'oros to*ic is one that Ton! takes seriosl!. #en have been taken ot b! sni*ers onthe edges o: battle:ields b! *asing too long to ndo their :l!:ront bttons. Ton!;sstdents *resented her $ith the dra$ing *erha*s ho*ing to shock her, bt Ton! :inds itendearing. As a $o'an she 'st o:ten sto* hersel: :ro' *inching their !ong cheeksand acting like a den 'other. Ton! records the grades she 'arked at ho'e and leavesthe graded *a*ers on her door :or her stdents to retrieve.

Chapter 5D Ton! eits the sb$a! and heads to the Toi-e :or lnch. #ind:l o: her

s'all si7e, she avoids the *anhandlers croched along the $alk$a!. Ro7 $aves to her:ro' otside the Toi-e, and the! greet each other $ith air kisses. Ton! likes to lnchat the Toi-e becase it 'akes her :eel !onger and 'ore hi*. The $aitresses $eardaring ot:its, and the csto'ers $ear chains, 'etal stds and *ale skin. The three:riends $old not ventre to the Toi-e a:ter dark, bt the lnch s*ecials are good.%haris a$aits the' inside $ith a bottle o: $ine. She $ears a cotton dress, a gra!cardigan and an orangea-a scar:. %haris;s hair is long, gra!blond and *arted in the'iddle. @er 'ake* gives her a natral glo$, $hich sho$s o:: her inner light. Ro7, b!

5


10/86

contrast, looks *ro:essionall! 'ade * in an electric ble designer sit. @er :ace is*ainted care:ll!, and her hair is :reshl! colored. Ro7;s $ar' :ace contrasts $ith theshar* edges o: her designer look. Ton! sits do$n and ses her large tote bag as a:ootstool. Ro7 teases her abot needing to $ear :orinch heels $hile %haris assresher she is *er:ect as she is.

nce a 'onth the three :riends lnch together. Aside :ro' the 9enia debacle, the! havelittle in co''on, and !et the!;ve beco'e close :riends. The! have not discssed 9eniasince the :neral service :ive !ears ago, and !et, thinks Ton!, the! are all still thinkingabot her. A $aitress in leo*ard tights takes their order as Ro7 grills Ton! abot thecrrent tensions in the #iddle ast. Ton! tells the' that there $ill be a $ar, stating thatthe 'atter $as decided $hen Sadda' crossed the border like the Rbicon, she adds.Ton! thinks o: the destrction sre to be broght b! the $ar. %haris is distressed b! thetalk o: $ar, and Ton! si'ltaneosl! $ishes to console %haris and to $ake her * torealit!. Ton! :eels a chill and looks * to :ind 9enia standing in the door$a!. Ton!;s heart*l''ets, bt she reali7es she is not sr*rised. The three :riends $his*er and tr! toavoid attracting 9enia;s attention. The $aitress leads 9enia *ast the', and Ton! cansee that 9enia is as beati:l as ever. 9enia stares straight at Ton!, en>o!ing the e::ecther *resence has on the'. Ton! is *ri'ed :or battle, bt she $onders i: she still has theenerg! to handle 9enia.

Chapter 6D Thinking o: 'istakes 'ade b! retreating ar'ies, Ton! relctantl! trns herback to 9enia as she eits the restarant $ith the others. Ton! can :eel 9enia;s'alevolent glance brning throgh her back. Ton! no longer :eels sa:e. The three

$o'en *art $ith reassring hgs, bt Ton! is not reassred. %haris and Ro7 havealread! lost ever!thing to 9enia. nl! Ton! still has so'ething to lose. Ton! $alks all the

$a! ho'e, gathering her thoghts. hen she arrives, she searches est;s :ace :orsigns. She sees nothing nsal in his e*ression. 6or dinner, est *icks * so'e

Ha*anese takeot, and the! eat in :ront o: the television. est eits the roo', and Ton!sneaks over to his desk. n a *iece o: *a*er b! the *hone, she :inds a note in hishand$ritingDZ. A. Hotel. Ext. 1409. FThe ene'! is alread! $ithin the $alls.F (*g. 5)

Chapter 7D %haris 'akes her bed neatl! in the 'orning. It is the :irst decent bed she hasever o$ned, and %haris covers it $ith a =ictorian *rint s*read, $hich her daghterthinks is too bs!. Agsta, %haris;s daghter, *re:ers an nclttered, 'ini'alist st!le o:d!cor. %haris thinks o: her as hard. She re'e'bers her o$n 'other calling her hard,back $hen her na'e $as 8aren, not %haris. 8aren had been so:t to a :alt, thogh,never hard. As %haris, she is >st hard enogh to get b!, bt she still $ears so:t, :lo$ingclothes to 'atch her *ersonalit!. 3ineteen!earold Agsta, on the other hand, *re:ers

a *olished, e::icient look. %haris na'ed her Agst, bt the na'e $as too so:t :or herdaghter, $ho added the FaF to 'ake it sond stronger. hen Agsta co'es ho'e tovisit, she critici7es her 'other;s *recios cltter.

&tting Agsta ot o: her 'ind, %haris en>o!s the vie$ o: the cit! :ro' her bedroo'$indo$. 6ro' her ho'e on the Island, the cit! can be seen across the $ater ands*arkles like a *recios ge'. %haris does her !oga eercises and *re*ares :or a da! o:

$ork and lnch $ith the girls. She thinks o: 9enia as she sho$ers, :eeling nclean.

10


11/86

%haris takes ot her -art7 *endl' and asks it i: she $ill have a good da!. A circlar'otion 'eans !es, and side to side 'eans no. This 'orning, ho$ever, the *endl''erel! sto*s dead. %haris takes ot her Bible and $ith closed e!es *okes a *in at the*ages. The *assage she has rando'l! selected is :ro' 6irst %orinthians. For !o" "e#ee thro$%h a %la##& dar'l() b$t the! *a+e to *a+e.F (*g. 4)

%haris eats a health! break:ast, thinking o: the bacon and eggs she $old have 'ade:or Bill! i: he $ere still here. She $i*es Bill! :ro' her 'ind, as Shanita al$a!s re'indsher to do $ith negative thoghts. She does not scceed. %haris looks ot at $hereBill!;s henhose sed to stand ntil Agsta 'ade her take it do$n. I: onl! she kne$

$here Bill! had been taken. Srel! he $oldn;t have >st abandoned her o: his o$nvolition. Sdden *ain gri*s her $ind*i*e, and she bangs her head so:tl! against thetable. She breathes in and ot, visali7ing the *ain as a color. %haris gets * to 'aketea, care:l not to trn her back to the kitchen door. A 'onth ago Agsta ca'e ho'ene*ectedl!, and her sdden a**earance throgh the glass *ane in the door:rightened %haris into thinking 9enia had retrned.

Chapter ,D Ton! once asked %haris to de:ine her vie$s on death. %haris res*onded thatdeath is a transition, a learning e*erience. %haris has a hard ti'e e*laining things toTon!;s logical 'ind. %haris s*eaks o: near death e*eriences, $hich 'akes Ro7nco':ortable. %haris doesn;t dare 'ention her belie: that so'e s*irits don;t 'ake it tothe light. Sch s*irits are dangeros and can 'ove into one;s bod! like a *er'anenthosegest. That $as %haris;s :irst thoght $hen 9enia a**eared at the back door.#erci:ll!, it trned ot to be onl! Agsta. 3onetheless, %haris :eels that 9enia is anearthbond s*irit, and she believes she $ill trn * again. %haris bla'es hersel: :or this,thinking her n:inished bsiness ties 9enia to the earth.

%haris has a bad :eeling abot toda!;s lnch, bt her :eelings are not al$a!s accrate.

Toda! as she boards the :err!, she recalls Bill!;s de*artre. %haris, heavil! *regnant,ran to the dock >st in ti'e to see Bill!, 9enia and t$o strange 'en in overcoats leavingon the boat. Bill! averted his :ace. As she crosses the river no$, she thinks o: death asa River o: 6orget:lness.

Chapter 9D %haris $orks at a sho* called Radiance, rn b! the indo'itable Shanita. Thena'e Radiance lred %haris a$a! :ro' her boring >ob :iling re*orts at the #inistr! o:3atral Resorces. Shanita hired her becase she had the right look. Agsta doesn;ta**rove o: %haris;s interest in ne$ age knickknacks, bt %haris vales the' so 'chthat she trades *art o: her *a! :or s*ecial ite's.

This 'orning, %haris arrives earl!, :or a change. %haris ad'ires Shanita, $ho is s'art,*ractical and *s!chic. Shanita;s eotic dark looks o:ten ins*ire the csto'ers to ask

$here she co'es :ro'. Shanita al$a!s res*onds b! sa!ing she $as born right here inthe cit!. Shanita e*lains to %haris that these -estions are a :or' o: *re>dice, so%haris never asks Shanita $here she is :ro'. Shanita changes her stor! :re-entl!.So'eti'es, she is *art %hinese, *art black, #a!an, Tibetan, &akistani, Scottish or estIndian. %haris is stck being *lain old $hite. She vo$s that in a :tre li:e she $ill co'eback as an eotic 'i. Shanita thinks $ith the crrent recession it;s ti'e to 'akeover

11


12/86

the store. &eo*le aren;t in the 'arket :or lr! goods. Shanita $ill call the ne$ storeScri'*ers. Shanita a**roves o: Agsta and her desire to take bsiness corses, $hich%haris does not nderstand. Eet, Shanita also kno$s abot cr!stals and tells %haris thather *endl';s odd behavior signi:ies an ne*ected event. It is a $arning.

Chapter 10D Toda! is %haris;s hal:da! at the sho*, so at noon she clocks ot and heads:or the Toi-e. The 'o'ent she enters, she :eels distrbing energ! arond her. Sheasks the $aitress in the leo*ard *ants :or a corner table near the s'oked glass 'irrorbecase 'irrors de:lect negative energ!. %haris :inds the $aitress;s leo*ard attire to betoo toghlookingG she doesn;t like the Toi-e bt is $illing to eat there occasionall! :orRo7;s sake. hen Ro7 and Ton! arrive, %haris en>o!s their *resence bt lets theirconversation $ash over her. The talk is o: $ar, and %haris tnes it ot. She cannot hearsch $ords $ithot :eeling as i: she is living the *ain o: $ar. %haris is hal:$a! throghlnch be:ore she tnes back in. She hears Ton!;s re'ark abot the Rbicon and recallsthat it had so'ething to do $ith Hlis %aesar. The door o*ens, and %haris goes cold asshe sees 9enia :ra'ed in the door$a!. %haris can see a dark, 'alevolent ara s$irlingarond 9enia;s s*irit. She is sr*rised that her :riends can see 9enia, too.

Chapter 11D %haris, Ro7 and Ton! hg goodb!e otside the Toi-e. %haris scarcel!re'e'bers leaving the restarant. %haris gradall! reali7es that this 'ani:estation o:9enia is actall! a live h'an being. As the other $o'en leave, %haris considers'arching back into the Toi-e to con:ront 9enia, bt the $ords she $ishes to sa!eva*orate :ro' her 'ind. She considers retrning to Radiance and asking Shanita $hatto do, bt Shanita $old not nderstand 9enia;s *o$er. %haris;s bod! decides hercorse o: action :or her. It in:or's her that she $old like an es*resso. This is nsal,as %haris rarel! craves ca::eine, bt dti:ll! she :ollo$s her bod!;s instrctions andenters the 8a:a! 3$ar across the street :ro' the Toi-e. As she sits b! the $indo$,she reali7es her bod! doesn;t $ant an es*resso as 'ch as it $ants her to s*! on

9enia. As she $aits, she thinks that her 9enia stor! is the onl! one $ithot an ending. Atleast Ro7 and Ton! kno$ $hat ha**ened in their stories. 9enia eits the Toi-e $ith a!ong 'an $ho is not Bill!. %haris re'inds hersel: to have co'*assion :or all livingthings as she s'others the hatred that in:ses her. She can see hersel: *shing 9eniao:: a cli::. %haris considers this an n$orth! thoght and :orcibl! e*els it. She gathersher things and :ollo$s 9enia.

Chapter 12D Ro7 $akes :ro' a drea' o: having no clothes, grate:l that she at least didnot drea' abot 9enia. She looks arond her $hiteon$hite bedroo' and $onders i:9enia $as ever in here $hen #itch $as still arond. @er :'bling hand knocks herlatest secri'e thriller o:: the nightstand. Ro7 recalls the da!s $hen she $as

entertained b! the 'ore sedate 'rder '!steries o: her !oth. She $as :ascinated b!the nglish contr!hose d!cor and co':orted b! the relative sa:et! in $hich thedetectives $orked.


13/86

In the bathroo', Ro7 *a'*ers her :ace and la'ents her ne$ red hair color, $hich'akes her look like a Fraddled harridan.F (*g. +4) These $ords she learned :ro' theold:ashioned 'rder '!steries she read $hen she cold sneak a$a! :ro' her :etchingand carr!ing dties at her 'other;s boardinghose. Raddled harridan is ho$ shethoght o: her 'other then. Co$nstairs in the nclttered kitchen, she :inds her t$in

daghters, rin and &ala. The girls are in high s*irits as sal, and the! 'ake 'ocking>okes as the! crse color:ll! to shock their 'other. Ro7;s re-est :or the' to hel* her:ind her FdarnedF co::ee grinder brings on another gale o: laghter. She asks a:ter hert$ent!t$o!earold son, arr!, and she learns he is still in bed. &rotectivel!, Ro7decides to let hi' slee*. rin sggests that arr! has a ne$ ro'ance going. The t$insres'e their teasing, and Ro7 thinks ho$ the! are care:l never to tease her be!ondher breaking *oint. The! never, :or ea'*le, 'ention their :ather, #itch. She isoverco'e $ith :ierce love :or the' and begins to cr!. The! stroke her back aniosl!ntil Ro7 breaks the tension $ith a >oke.

Chapter 13D 6or once, the t$ins clean * a:ter the'selves in the kitchen. Ro7 doesn;t$ant to think abot the' leaving :or college in a :e$ !ears. To s*ite 9enia;s 'e'or!,she breaks her diet and eats a :illing break:ast.


14/86

ho'oseal 'ale attorne! na'ed Bo!ce to be her 'ain assistant. Bo!ce :etches andcarries :or her as a :e'ale e'*lo!ee $old not, and he res*ects the cor*oratehierarch! becase he $ants one da! to be on to* o: it. Ro7 a**reciates his gentle'anl!'anner, intelligence and lo!alt!. She $ill do ever!thing she can to :rther his career.

Bo!ce revie$s Ro7;s stocks and then toda!;s charitable donation re-ests. At eleven,the! 'eet in the boardroo' $ith a !ong co'*an! Ro7 is considering as aninvest'ent. The! are a 'ake* co'*an! called ook'akers. Ro7 believes li*sticks $illsell $ell in the crrent de*ression econo'!, as $o'en like to cheer the'selves * $ithsch *rchases dring do$n ti'es. Ro7 re'e'bers $hat it;s like to be *oor, $hich hasbeen an advantage in the bsiness $orld. A:ter the ook'akers *eo*le leave, Ro7annonces that she $ill *rchase a controlling interest in the co'*an!. Bo!ce ad'iresher ctthroat a**roach. Back in her o::ice, she sees the *ictre o: #itch on her deskand is over$hel'ed b! gilt. She still $ears her $edding ring. Ro7 ri:les throgh herdesk :or the 9enia :ile. She has never discssed this $ith Bo!ce, bt she ass'es he;sheard the r'ors. She *lls ot a gloss! 'odel *hoto o: 9enia and asks Bo!ce :or hiso*inion. To his credit, Bo!ce re'arks that she looks overdone, too old and ot o: date:or the ook'akers ca'*aign. Ro7 s'iles grate:ll! at his lo!alt!.

Chapter 15D Ro7 *arks the Ben7 in an attended lot :or lnch. She carries a tin! *inkcltch *rse :illed $ith t$o dollar bills so that she can kee* the beggars at ba!. Ro7thinks these *eo*le hate her :or giving the' 'one!.


15/86

Chapter 16D Ro7 doesn;t recall ho$ she got otside the Toi-e. She hgs her :riendsgoodb!e and can :eel ho$ shaken the! are. She $atches the' $alk a$a! $ith her:a'iliar $orr! :or their sa:et!. Ro7 thinks both Ton! and %haris are lacking in streets'arts, and 9enia is a street :ighter. Ro7 :eels it is * to her to attack :irst becase it;sthe onl! $a! to handle so'eone like 9enia. ith #itch gone, Ro7 has nothing le:t to

lose. This bravra dissi*ates the 'o'ent Ro7 sees her car. So'eone has scratchedRi+h Bit+hon the *aint, and she sits in the car and cries.

Back at Ro7;s o::ice, she 'r'rs niceties to the *eo*le she *asses and ensconceshersel: in her o::ice. She reaches :or a chocolate and ri:les throgh her card :ile :or thena'e o: the detective she sed to :ollo$ 9enia last ti'e. Ro7 calls * @arriet Bridgesand hires her to :ollo$ 9enia. She hangs * the *hone alread! i'*atient to hear back.9enia cold be an!$here, and Ro7 doesn;t :eel sa:e. She *onders 9enia and reali7esshe is envios o: her old ne'esis.

The Toi!ue, Chapters "#1$ Analysis

This section covers the *resentda! ti'eline :or all three *rotagonists, leading * to the'o'ent $hen the! discover that 9enia is not reall! dead. Ton!, %haris and Ro7 aresho$n, in trn, $aking * to greet this *articlar :ate:l da!. In this $a!, the athorestablishes their dail! habits, their *ersonalities and their varios $a!s o: looking at the

$orld. All three $o'en a**ear ver! di::erent on the sr:ace, and !et 9enia is theirco''on link. The! do not, ho$ever, react to 9enia;s resrrection in the sa'e $a!, oragain, at least not on the sr:ace. B! introdcing their da!s se*aratel!, the athor bildson the si'ilarit! bet$een her novel and a tre historical acconting, in $hich $itnessesare intervie$ed se*aratel! and o:ten shed contrasting lights on the sb>ect. B! lendingher stor! the $eight o: histor!, #argaret At$ood scceeds both in develo*ing her

e*osition and in creating a ro'antic tone. She also :rees her readers to derive $hatlessons the! $ill, i: an!, :ro' this stnning *sedobiogra*hical *ortrait o: 9enia.

&ortents o: 9enia;s retrn are s*rinkled liberall! into the tet in the hors leading * toher a**earance at the Toi-e. Ton! locks est sa:el! inside their threestor!, =ictorianst!le ho'e and thinks ho$ she $old like to *t a 'oat, dra$bridge and so'e alligatorsarond it to kee* danger a$a!. %haris;s *endl' behaves strangel!, and overbreak:ast, %haris trns her back s*erstitiosl! to her kitchen door, $here onl! a 'onthbe:ore she 'istook her daghter;s sdden a**earance :or 9enia;s. Ro7 likens her :rill!

$hite cano*! bed to the altars bilt in #eico :or the Ca! o: the Cead, said to be a da!$hen the deceased retrn to earth. All three $o'en :eel ill at ease this 'orning. The!

re'ind the'selves :re-entl!, like a 'antra, that 9enia is dead, bt none o: the' :eelssecre in this kno$ledge.

ver lnch, the three :riends; talk is, a**ro*riatel!, o: $ar. The i'ager! and s!'bolis'o: $ar *er'eates The Robber Brideand creates a ni-e tetral contet :or the eventso: the stor!. Ths :ar, the athor has taken several o**ortnities to $eave the langageo: $ar:are into the tet. The obvios ea'*le is Ton!, $ho s*eciali7es in teachinghistorical battles at the niversit!. B! 'aking Ton! the chronicler o: 9enia;s li:e, 9enia is

1


16/86

sho$n to be a co'batant in the $ar o: the sees. Ro7 echoes this belie: $hen she$onders i: Fshe;d onl! been $hatJ *rettier, s'arter, seier even, better so'eho$G orelse $orse, 'ore calclating, 'ore nscr*los, a gerrilla :ighter #itch 'ight still behere.F (&art 2, %ha*ter 1, *g. ) %haris;s character see's the o**osite o: a

$ar'onger, and !et her stor! centers on $ar as $ell, as the athor $ill de'onstrate in

&art 6or o: the novel. Hst as Ton! stdies the histories, belie:s, tri'*hs and 'istakeso: each :eding *art! in historical battles, At$ood *resents the sa'e in:or'ation,ostensibl! :or the sa'e reasonD to honor and nderstand the strggles o: the *ast.

1/


17/86

Bla%& 'namel, Chapters 1(#"(

Bla%& 'namel, Chapters 1(#"( Summary

Chapter 17D Ton! *onders so'e still neblos ideas :or her *co'ing lectre at theSociet! o: #ilitar! @istoriogra*hers. Ton! $onders ho$ accrate a *ictre historians canactall! conceive. @istorians decide $hat 'o'ents in histor! are i'*ortant based ontheir otco'es, and !et at the ti'e the! occrred the otco'es $ere nkno$n. F6or asoldier on the eve o: battle, ignorance is the sa'e as ho*e. Thogh neither one isbliss.F (*g. 105) Ton! :inds it de*ressing to kno$ in advance the sorr! :ate o: the losingside. She en>o!s re$orking battles tr!ing to :ind ne$ strategies that cold have changedthe otco'es. It is late at night, and she is in the cellar, in her robe and raccoonsli**ers. Ton! snck ot o: bed $ithot $aking est, s**osedl! to $ork on hers*eech, bt 'ainl! to $ork on the *roble' o: 9enia. Ton! doesn;t $ant est to kno$that she $ent throgh his things. She has alread! 'ade a list o: ever! hotel in the cit!beginning $ith an A. She intends to shelter est :ro' her $orries. F@e;s alread! beenda'aged enogh. 6or kindl! and ssce*tible sols like est;s, the real $orld,es*eciall! the real $orld o: $o'en, is :ar too harsh a *lace.F (*g. 110)

In the cellar, Ton! $orks on her s*eech in the ga'es roo'. She and est have indoorotdoor car*et nder a *ool and *ing*ong table and a re:rigerator $ith est;s beer. Inthe corner is Ton!;s *ersonal ga'e, a sand table $hich she has :illed $ith a :lor and*aste threedi'ensional 'a* o: ro*e and the #editerranean. It incldes the 'ontainranges and bodies o: $ater. Ton! can alter the 'a* to 'ake it re:lect an! historical*eriod b! adding roads, to$ns, canals and $etlands. She ses kitchen s*ices tore*resent ar'! gro*ings and reenacts :a'os battles. The table is no$ set * :or the

tenth centr!. tto the Red;s 'en are re*resented b! cloves, $hich *rse the green*e**ercorn Saracens. st ot o: sight. Ton! $ishes she cold $arn tto to goback. Ton! likes tto and :eels sorr! :or hi' becase on the 'orning o: this decisivebattle, he -arreled $ith his $i:e. &erha*s this cloded tto;s >dg'ent and 'ade hi'reckless. FIt;s too late :or tto, bt $hat abot herJ And i: she had another chance,another trn, another beginning, $ith 9enia, $old she have acted di::erentl!JF (*g.11)

Chapter 1,D : Ton!, Ro7 and %haris, Ton! $as the :irst to be:riend 9enia. She tries tonderstand $h! she o*ened her door to 9enia in the :irst *lace. It $as the earl!

nineteensities, $hen Ton! $as nineteen and living in #c%lng @all as a stdent. Inher stdies, Ton! $as dogged. Sociall!, ho$ever, she $as F$ra**ed in a *rotectiven'bness.F (*g. 114) It is 3ove'ber $hen her stor! begins. Ton! has been living at#c%lng :or three !ears, since the death o: her :ather. @er 'other had died evenearlier, and Ton! kee*s her ashes in a canister in her dor'itor! roo' closet. Ton! :eelsisolated :ro' the other girls in the dor'. The! like to gather in the co''on roo' anddiscss their dates. Ton! doesn;t date, so she has nothing to contribte to theconversations. Ton! *re:ers to s*end her ti'e $ith the *eo*le in her histor! books $ho

1+


18/86

died long ago. Ro7 is one o: $hat Ton! thinks o: as the %o''on Roo' girls. Ton!thinks Ro7 is crde and overbearing. All the girls, Ro7 inclded, treat Ton! like a dress* doll becase o: her di'intive si7e. The! like to :eed Ton! and r'*le her hair as i:she $ere a *et. Ton! avoids the' :or the 'ost *art. She likes to retain the o*tion o:s*ending ti'e $ith the' $hen the 'ood strikes her, thogh, so she so'eti'es *ts *

$ith their a::ectionate bt rde co'*an!.

Ton! doesn;t give the' too 'ch thoght, ho$ever. Ton! s*ends her ti'e thinkingabot $ars. She en>o!s re*la!ing decisive battles to see i: the! cold have been $on b!the losing side. She sees battles as *roble's $ith 'ore than one *otential soltion.Ton! en>o!s researching the 'a*s, troo* dis*ositions, technologies e'*lo!ed, $eatherconditions and level o: :aith o: the troo*s to see i: these ele'ents cold co'bine in analternative :ashion to create a di::erent reslt. She kee*s this hobb! o: hers -iet,thinking that the %o''on Roo' girls $old decide she $as too $eird i: the! kne$abot this obsession o: hers.

Ton! notices that there are other girls $ho isolate the'selves :ro' the %o''on Roo'cro$d. %haris is one o: these, althogh at this ti'e she still ses the na'e 8aren.8aren is a $illo$! girl $ho tends to 'eander abot ca'*s as i: she;s :orgotten $hereshe;s going, and she o:ten loses things. ne night, Ton! retrns :ro' the librar! to see8aren cli'bing do$n the :ire esca*e bare:oot. Ton! decides she 'st be slee*$alkingand :eels obligated to hel*. 8aren $alks bare:oot throgh the leaves on the #c%lngla$n and then sits do$n beneath a tree. Ton! gro$s i'*atient and chill! bt is a:raid to

$ake her. She sits do$n net to 8aren beneath the tree. 8aren tells Ton! she is notaslee*, bt thanks her :or her concern. Ton! is irritated to learn 8aren has behaved this

$a! intentionall!. Ton! is too *ractical to consider sch behavior intriging. Ton! canhandle *eo*le like Ro7 and the %o''on Roo' girls becase at least she nderstandsthe', bt she is nco':ortable $ith 8aren becase she doesn;t nderstand her.

Chapter 19D All o: the #c%lng @all girls avoid 9enia, and 9enia $old not lo$er hersel:to sociali7e $ith an! o: the' an!$a!. 9enia believes onl! s'all'inded *eo*le $oldlive in a dor'itor!. 9enia ecldes Ton! :ro' her derogator! co''ents abot s'all'inded *eo*le, 'ch to Ton!;s relie:. F9enia;s conte'*t $as a $ork o: art. It $as sonearl! absolteG it $as a great *rivilege to :ind !orsel: eclded :ro' it. Eo :eltre*rieved, !o :elt vindicated, !o :elt grate:lG or this is $hat Ton! :elt,F in an! case.(*g. 120) Ton! :irst 'eets 9enia throgh her :riend est. est gets to kno$ Ton! b!sitting net to her in class. @e borro$s her notes :or a lectre he;s 'issed, and $ithin a'onth, the! are in the habit o: taking co::ee together a:ter class. @e is the onl! *ersonTon! :eels co':ortable $ith, althogh est is onl! taking #odern @istor! becase o: his

interest in historical 'sical instr'ents. @e *la!s the lte, bt Ton! kno$s little elseabot hi'. @is na'e is Ste$art, bt Ton! rena'es hi' est as a reslt o: her habit o:reading back$ards. est *re:ers his ne$ na'e. The! get a lot o: stares $hen the! go:or co::ee or a beer together becase est is tall and handso'e and Ton! is so tin!.She tells hersel: $hat the! have is onl! :riendshi* and hardl! dares to ho*e :or 'ore.

ne da!, est tells Ton! that F$eF are having a Fbash.F (*g. 12) She doesn;t kno$ $ho"ere:ers to, and the $ord ba#hdoesn;t sond like so'ething est $old sa!. Ton! has

1


19/86

heard abot the bashes at the 'en;s :raternities and ho$ *eo*le drink the'selves sick."iven her tin! si7e, she drinks ver! s'all a'onts o: alcohol. Eet, est tells her sheshold get ot 'ore and 'eet *eo*le. @is tone $hen he invites her is sl!, and she :earshe is tr!ing to set her * $ith so'eone else. Ton! does not $ant to risk re>ection b!getting involved $ith others, bt she agrees to co'e. @e doesn;t o::er to *ick her *,

and so Ton! concldes that it is not a date.

I''ediatel! *on arriving, Ton! regrets having co'e. The roo' is :illed $ith the sort o:*eo*le $ho inti'idate her. o'en $ith long ballerina *on!tails or severe bns $earblack skirts, bloses and stockings and heav! black 'ascara. The 'en $eartrtlenecks and beards $ith >ean >ackets and bristle $ith s*ercharged energ!. The

$o'en ado*t stdiosl! bored *oses scanning the roo' :or so'eone $orth! o: theirti'e. Against this backdro*, Ton! :eels ridiclos. She has $orn a green cordro!

>'*er over a $hite blose, green velvet hairband, knee socks and loa:ers. Ton!reali7es she needs to *date her $ardrobe. She cranes her neck arond looking :orest, bt she sees hi' no$here. She is a:raid to ask one o: the *art!goers i: the!;veseen hi'.

As Ton! looks arond the roo', she reali7es it;s *ainted in black. ven the :loors aregloss! black ena'el, and the $indo$s are *ainted over, too. %andles and $hite :lo$ers:ill the roo'. ne o: the 'ale gests calls Ton! a girl scot. She $ants to :lee, bt shedoesn;t $ant est to think she snbbed his invitation. She seeks re:ge in thebathroo'. ven the toilet seat is *ainted black. hen Ton! eits the bathroo', shes*ots 9enia. Against the allblack backdro*, 9enia;s $hite she*herd;s s'ock stands ot.Ton! reali7es she 'st have *lanned her ot:it :or sch e::ect. She looks trl! beati:l.The sheer $hite s'ock, nbttoned to :latter her cleavage, reaches 'idthigh on9enia;s tight ble >eans. In her *resence, Ton! :eels s'all and absrd b! co'*arison.Ton! esca*es into the kitchen, $hich is also all black. @ere she :inds est at last.

Ton! is dis'a!ed to :ind est drnk. est calls her his Flittle *alF and s*eaks in s$ear$ords. (*g. 12/) Ton! tells hi' she has to leave, bt >st then 9enia arrives and beginstoching est in a *ro*rietorial, :lirtatios 'anner. est introdces 9enia to Ton!, and:ro' his tone, Ton! reali7es that $hen he said "eare having a bash, "e'eant hi' and9enia. 9enia kno$s Ton!;s na'e, and Ton! reali7es that Fest has been discssing her

$ith 9enia, the t$o o: the', anal!7ing her behind her back, sticking ad>ectives onto heras i: she;s a child, as i: she;s an!one at all, as i: she;s a to*ic. It occrs to her also thatthe onl! reason est asked her to their *art! is that 9enia told hi' to.F (*g. 12+) 9enia:lirts otrageosl! $ith est as she e*lains to Ton! that this is a revenge *art!. Thelandlord has evicted the', so 9enia and est are sing the clase in their lease that

allo$s the' to *aint the a*art'ent the color o: their choice. est doesn;t notice $henTon! insists she 'st leave. Ton! reali7es she;s lost est, althogh o: corse she neverreall! had hi'. 9enia, ho$ever, asks Ton! abot her *assion in li:e. Instead o: *la!ing itcool, Ton! tells her the trthD $ar. Ce to the beer, Ton! at :irst reverses it, as is her*rivate habit, and tells 9enia her *assion is ra$. 9enia laghs in delight at Ton!;s*alindro'ic ans$er. She takes Ton!;s ar' in a :riendl! gestre and insists the! haveco::ee.

15


20/86

Chapter 20D In retros*ect, thinks Ton!, that $as the decisive 'o'ent in the $ar. TheRbicon had been crossed. She $onders $hich o: the t$o ans$ers she gave, ra$ or

$ar, sho$ed 9enia the $a! to get *ast Ton!;s ar'or. &robabl!, it $as both ans$erstogether. There are other :actors, ad'its Ton!D her naivet! and her obvios attraction toest. 9enia 'st have decided that Ton! $as not a threat bt had so'e -alities $orth

'ining. T$ice a $eek, Ton! and 9enia 'eet in a co::ee sho*. 9enia *lies Ton! $ithh!*othetical -estions. hat chain o: events $old lead Ton! to co''itting sicideJ I:she $ere a s*!, $old she take c!anide rather than be tortred :or in:or'ationJ Ton!:inds these -estions distrbing, bt she :eels it $old be a tactical 'istake to let 9eniasee that the! bother her. 9enia has a s**orting role in The Troa! oe!. 9eniaco'*lains abot the directors $ho *a$ her and drool over her. Ton! has never been*a$ed at or drooled on and $onders *rivatel! $hat it;s like. The theater cro$d acce*tsTon!;s *resence, thogh no one can :igre ot $hat she and 9enia have in co''on.The %o''on Roo' girls sto* treating Ton! like a *et, bt Ton! doesn;t kno$ i: it;sres*ect or :ear o: 9enia.

Ro7 tries to tell Ton! that 9enia is a *redator, bt Ton! $ill not listen. Ton! thinks Ro7 isbeing a FHealos bitch,F or a F@ctib Solae>.F (*g. 1) 9enia has *icked ot arts!cordro! and *llover co'binations :or Ton!;s ne$ $ardrobe and convinced her to haveher hair redone. 9enia *la!s * Ton!;s tin! si7e b! *tting her in oversi7e clothes andoversi7e glasses, $hich 'ake Ton! look like a little girl. 9enia s$ears that 'en are

$ar*ed enogh to a**reciate sch things and insists Ton! re'e'ber this :act. At theco::ee sho*, 9enia $heedles Ton!;s li:e stor! ot o: her. Ton!, :or the :irst ti'e in her li:e,is heedless $ith her $ords.

Chapter 21D Ton! tells 9enia abot her 'other, a sb>ect she;s never shared $ithan!one. 9enia *rses the details avidl!. It doesn;t occr to Ton! to -estion 9enia;scriosit!. Ton! shares ever!thing, :ro' her *re'atre birth to her 'other;s ine*t

atte'*ts at *arenting. Ton!;s 'other, Anthea, abandoned Ton! and her :ather. Ton!recalls the night as being like an! other. She $atches throgh the $indo$ :or Anthea toretrn and :inall! sees her co'ing * the $alk carr!ing a $ra**ed *ackage. hen shesees Anthea, Ton! hrries to the *iano and begins *racticing. @er tin! hands can barel!s*an the ke!s, bt Anthea 'akes Ton! *la!. Tonight, :or no reason Ton! can divine,Anthea sggests she take a break. Ton! kno$s that nothing she does $ill ever *leaseAnthea, bt she tries ver! hard to do ever!thing Anthea $ants, ho*ing so'eda! toi'*ress her. Anthea tells Ton! F;that #other trl!, trl! loves !o.F; (*g. 140) Ton! hasheard these $ords be:ore, sall! acco'*anied b! drinking and broken glass.

Chapter 22D Anthea cooks dinner that night as sal, bt she leaves her nice bridge clb

dress on and $ears her best a*ron. Althea sends Ton! to :etch her :ather :or dinner.Ton! conte'*lates her :ather in his std!. "ri:: 6re'ont is not a ha**! 'an, shereali7es, bt he does not co'*lain abot it like Anthea does. Anthea *ts "ri:: do$n in*blic, 'aking light o: his 'ilitar! service. She tells *eo*le she $as a $ar bride and'akes it sond as i: "ri:: carried her o:: to %anada into do'estic ca*tivit! against her

$ill. "ri:: $orks :or a li:e insrance co'*an! and tells Ton! that i: it hadn;t been :or the$ar, he $old not have had a chance to get an edcation. The onl! stor! he;s told abothis childhood on the :ar' is abot the ti'e his :ather;s ae bonced o:: a :ro7en tree in

20


21/86

the $oods and cho**ed into his leg. r!, "ri::;s :ather strode o::$ithot a $ord to "ri::. "ri:: had :ollo$ed his :ather;s red and $hite :oot*rints in thesno$ to get ho'e. Tonight, "ri:: sends Ton! back to see i: dinner is actall! read!.

The :ood is a little brned, bt "ri:: never co''ents $hether the :ood is good or bad.

Anthea calls hi' a cold :ish. "ri:: asks $ho $on at the bridge clb. Anthea tells hi'Rhonda $on, bt "ri:: sa!s he sa$ Rhonda do$nto$n toda!. Anthea gets angr! that he$old call her a liar and re:ses to discss it in :ront o: Ton!. Ton! sa!s she;s not hngr!:or dessert and esca*es to her roo' $here she tries to ignore the noises :ro' the otherroo'. In the 'orning there $ill be broken glass. Ton! $akes in the 'iddle o: the nightand ti*toes do$nstairs. In the kitchen, she :inds no broken glass. She can;t toch theneaten dessert becase her 'other $old notice, so she 'akes hersel: so'e breadand >a' instead. She cleans * all traces be:ore going back to bed.

In the 'orning, Ton! :inds Anthea in the kitchen, cooking break:ast. #ost 'ornings Ton!'akes her o$n break:ast and school lnch and also 'akes tea :or Anthea, ho*ing toa**ease her 'other;s nglish sensibilities. Toda! Anthea, in her ever!da! a*ron, :ries* a restarantst!le break:ast and serves her hsband :or'all!. @e tells her she sholdhave been an actress, and she agrees. Ton! sees nothing obviosl! ot o: *lace this'orning, bt $hen she retrns ho'e :ro' school, her 'other is gone. Anthea has le:t anote :or Ton!, along $ith the $ra**ed *ackage Ton! sa$ her bring ho'e the nightbe:ore. Ton! reali7es that Anthea;s absence is *re'editated. The note tells Ton! severalthings, none o: $hich trn ot to be tre. Anthea sa!s she $old like to take Ton! $ithher. She sa!s $hen Ton!;s older she;ll nderstand $h! she le:t. She sa!s that she $ill

$rite o:ten, and she sa!s that she loves Ton! and $ill see her soon. Ton! $ants tobelieve the lies in the note, and she does, :or a ti'e. The *ackage holds a dress that ist$o si7es too large :or Ton!.

Chapter 23D The stor! see's so'eho$ $orse to Ton! as she voices it to 9enia. It;s as i:telling it has :inall! 'ade Anthea;s de*artre a *er'anent event. 9enia asks $hatbeca'e o: Anthea. Ton! e*lains that she ran o:: $ith a 'an :ro' her :ather;s li:einsrance o::ice. @is na'e $as &err!, and he;d been 'arried to a $o'an na'edRhonda :ro' Anthea;s bridge clb. The! $ent to %ali:ornia.

The hosekee*er learns the ne$s be:ore "ri::. The older $o'an o::ers no co':ort toTon!. She 'erel! goes on $ith her vac'ing. ventall!, "ri:: co'es ho'e ands*eaks to the hosekee*er, and the! sit do$n to a silent s**er. "ri:: seeks Ton!;sreassrance that the t$o o: the' $ill be all right.

9enia *ro'*ts :or 'ore details, bt Ton! does not kno$ ho$ to describe the vacanc! inher sol. Ton! :ills the absence in $ith historical :acts and dates. Anthea sends*ostcards and so'eti'es clothes that are at :irst too large :or Ton!, and later, too s'all.Anthea sends belated birthda! cards and sna*shots o: hersel:. At :irst, &err! is besideAnthea in the *hotos. ater, other 'en take his *lace. Anthea talks o: having Ton! ot:or the holida!s, bt she never does. The !ears *ass. Ton! 'akes tea and co'*licateddesserts to i'*ress her :ather, bt he never notices. @e drinks and is :re-entl! absent:ro' ho'e. 6or a $hile, there is a girl:riend, $ho' Ton! des*ises, bt $hen that ends,

21


22/86

"ri:: begins drinking harder. @e 'o*es arond Ton!;s roo', drnk, as i: $aiting :or herto co':ort hi'. She cannot bear his de*ression and has learned not to e*ect an!thing:ro' hi' at all. She sto*s tr!ing to be res*onsible :or hi' and ignores hi' in :avor o:reading abot the siege techni-es o: historical generals. hen he;s reall! drnk, heso'eti'es beco'es violentl! angr! or overbearingl! a::ectionate as i: 'aking * :or his

neglect. Ton! is s'all and agile enogh to steer clear o: hi' and learns to 'onitor hisdrnkenness. She *lans esca*e rotes back to her bedroo', $here she *shes thebrea in :ront o: the door.

Anthea dro$ns o:: the coast o: Ba>a %ali:ornia. @er bo!:riend Roger sa!s she :ell o:: the!acht and $as knocked nconscios. FRoger $as ver! sorr! abot it, in the $a! !o

$old be i: !o;d lost so'eone;s car ke!s or broken their best china *late. @e sondedas i: he $anted to b! a re*lace'ent bt $asn;t sre ho$. @e also sonded drnk.F (**.11/) Ton! takes the call, and Roger is sr*rised to learn Anthea has a daghter. @esends the ashes back. A:ter this, Ton! esca*es to boarding school. She contines toavoid her :ather;s drnken *leas, a:raid o: $hat he 'ight have to sa!. She :eels sheo$es hi' nothing.


23/86

Ton!;s o$n li:e see's ninteresting net to this stor!, and !et Ton! is 'oved b! the ideathat both she and 9enia are or*hans o: sorts. FBoth 'otherless, both $ar babies,'aking their $a! in the $orld b! the'selves K...L She ad'ires 9enia tre'endosl!, notleast :or kee*ing her cool. Right no$, :or instance, $hen other $o'en 'ight be cr!ing,9enia is actall! s'iling s'iling at Ton!, $ith *erha*s a hint o: 'ocker!, $hich Ton!

chooses to inter*ret as a toching gallantr!, a steel! corage in the :ace o: adversedestin!. 9enia has been throgh horrors and e'erged victorios.F (*g. 1/) 9enia takesa re:lective *:: o: her cigarette and re'arks that the one good thing abot being anor*han is that there is no one else;s o*inion to $orr! abot. Ton! stares at 9enia andsees a re:lection o: hersel: as she $ishes she cold be.

Chapter 25D 9enia starts borro$ing 'one! :ro' Ton!, $ho :eels co'*elled to share herinheritance to hel* s**ort est and 9enia. ne night, 9enia co'es to Ton!;s roo' intears. 9enia has been nable to co'*lete a ter' *a*er, and she tells Ton! that i: she:ails this class 9enia $ill be back ot on the streets, :orced to *rostitte hersel: again tosrvive. Ton! has never seen 9enia cr! be:ore and sb'its to her :riend;s re-estalthogh it goes against Ton!;s sense o: right and $rong. Ton! $rites the ter' *a*er,and 9enia gets an A. Then, 9enia;s attitde changes. She is restless and acts bored

$ith both Ton! and est. ne night in A*ril, Ton! a$akens to :ind 9enia in her darkeneddor' roo'. 9enia clai's to be riddled $ith gilt abot the :ake ter' *a*er. 9enia tellsTon! the! shold con:ess. In her 'ind;s e!e, Ton! sees her li:e destro!ed. Ton!;s onl!career goal is to be a niversit! *ro:essor, and she $ill never land a >ob in acade'ia i:the :alse ter' *a*er bsiness gets ot. Ton! *rotests that she tried to hel* 9enia. 9eniasa!s she is de*ressed and :eels like creating so'e destrction, *erha*s even $ithest. 9enia e*lains that their rent is *ast de, and est does not kno$. Ton! hasalread! given 9enia this 'onth;s rent 'one! several ti'es, and it da$ns on her that sheis being black'ailed. She asks 9enia $hat it $ill take, and 9enia s'oothl! re*lies onethosand dollars. Ton! $rites her a check, and 9enia disa**ears ot the $indo$.

Chapter 26D T$o da!s later, est sho$s * at Ton!;s door, looking :or 9enia. 9enia isgone, along $ith Ton!;s thosand dollars and the contents o: est;s checking accont.est;s lte is also 'issing. Several $eeks later, Ton! is able to locate the lte in a*a$nsho* and restores it to the desolate est. F9enia has le:t a letter :or est. She didhave that 'ch consideration, or Ton! thinks, $ith her ne$ insight into the t$ists o:9enia;s sol that 'ch calclation. ( darli!%& a !ot "orth( o* (o$. oe da( (o$"ill *or%ie e. "ill loe (o$ till die. 8o$r loi!% Ze!ia.F (*g. 1+4) This letter is si'ilarto the one Ton! received :ro' her rna$a! 'other, and she kno$s the $ords are'eaningless. est, ho$ever, needs to believe the'. Both Ton! and est 'orn9enia;s loss. Ton! 'orns 'ore dee*l!, :or she alone reali7es that the 9enia the! both

loved never eisted. est contines to believe in 9enia and :eels that he has :ailed her.Ton!;s heart aches :or est in his *ain. She 'akes hi' tea, takes hi' :or $alks andholds his hand in silent co''iseration. @e starts drinking 'ore and sto*s attendingclass. Ton!;s $orr! :or est 'akes her *h!sicall! ill, bt nlike est, she kee*s * $ithher stdies.

Ro7 notices Ton!;s haggard :ace, and Ton!, needing a con:idante, tells Ro7 the stor!.She leaves ot the ter' *a*er and her :ears that est $ill kill hi'sel:. Ro7 tells Ton!

2


24/86


25/86

$ill co'e back $hen 9enia thro$s hi' a$a!. Ro7 'oves into Ton!;s a*art'ent to getTon! back on her :eet. Ton! re:ses to sta! at Ro7;s in case est co'es back. Ro7calls the niversit! to cancel Ton!;s classes, e*laining that Ton! has stre* throat. A:tera :e$ da!s, est calls Ro7 to check on Ton!. Ton! ss*ects that 9enia *t hi' * to itas a $a! o: t$isting the kni:e. ventall!, Ro7 sggests that Ton! b! a hose to

esca*e the bad 'e'ories. Ro7 hel*s her :ind, *rchase and decorate a threestor!=ictorian ho'e. 6or Ton!, the hose is a sanctar!, a convent. She bries hersel: in her$ork and ignores the *it!ing looks :ro' her colleages, $ho have all heard the gossi*abot est and 9enia.

Ton! thinks abot con:ronting 9enia. The address is listed in the ca'*s director!. Shedoes not go, thogh. est is a :ree agent, as she can i'agine 9enia telling her. 6or a!ear, there is no $ord :ro' est. Then est begins to leave ti'id 'essages on her'achine sggesting the! go :or a beer. Ton! does not res*ond becase she cannotthink o: $hat to sa! to hi'. Still, she doesn;t bla'e hi' :or being sedced b! 9enia. Shelikens it to being rn over b! a trck. hen est sho$s * at her :ront door, she cani''ediatel! tell he;s been d'*ed. est looks *iti:l, and Ton! lets hi' in. She neverregains her ho*es and illsions, bt she takes care o: est. She still loves hi' btbelieves his heart belongs to 9enia. She :eels she has est on loan. ach ti'e thedoorbell rings, she :ears it;s 9enia. hen 9enia dies, Ton! sto*s living in :ear.

3o$, 9enia is back. It is Ton!;s blood she thirsts :or, not est;s. Ton! cold see thehatred in 9enia;s e!es toda! at the Toi-e. She re'oves tto the Red;s :allen ar'!:ro' her sand table, installing the Saracens as the victors. She $onders i: tto 'ighthave $on this battle had he 'ore cnning and strength. Ton! kno$s she lacks strength,bt she intends to 'ake * :or it in cnning. She 'st antici*ate 9enia;s net 'ove.Ton! eits the cellar and sli*s -ietl! into the darkened back!ard to her garden. Thekitchen light co'es on, and est calls :or her aniosl!. She lets hi' $onder :or a

'o'ent be:ore res*onding. @e asks i: an!thing;s $rong, and Ton! lies s'oothl!,assring hi' there;s not. Ton! $onders ho$ long she can *rotect hi' :ro' 9enia.

Bla%& 'namel, Chapters 1(#"( Analysis

Ironicall!, in this section, the $ar bet$een the sees is de*icted as being a $ar bet$een$o'en. Ton! seeks to shelter est :ro' this strggle as she and 9enia 'atch $its in abattle :or his love. Ton! and 9enia kno$ certain trths abot each other, bt neither o:the' is straight:or$ard $ith est. As a reslt, est con:ses their t$o *ersonalities.9enia is the bold, strong one, and Ton! is e'otionall! :ragile. est sees onl! Ton!;s

togh eterior ar'or, and he :alls :or 9enia;s crocodile tears. The athor de*icts 9eniaas an actress, like Ton!;s 'other, and a'singl! casts 9enia in a *la! called The Troa!oe!, $hich is an a*t 'eta*hor not onl! :or $ar bt :or :e'inine dece*tion. Thiscreates the *erce*tion that 9enia and Ton! treat est like a *a$n, or like territor! :or

$hich the! are co'*eting. @ad either o: the $o'en con:ided honestl! in est, the!'ight have been able to $in hi' over as an all!.

2


26/86

This s*eaks to an interesting role reversal, $hich is a 'a>or the'e o: The Robber Bride.ach o: the three :e'ale *rotagonists is o: the generation that birthed the $o'en;s'ove'ent, and each o: the' in so'e $a! resists the stereot!*ical gender rolesassigned to the' b! societ!. This section :ocses on Ton!;s stor!, and Ton! is a *ri'eea'*le. As a historian and a s*ecialist in $ar, she con:onds both the 'ale and

:e'ale 'e'bers o: her @istor! Ce*art'ent, $ho cannot nderstand $h! a $o'an$old be interested in the historicall! 'ale *rsit o: battle. Ton! behaves according tothe noble traditions o: $arrior knights, bt instead o: *rotecting $o'en and children, she*rotects her s*ose, est. She doesn;t believe he is strong enogh to handle thedangeros $orld o: $o'en, an idea that both reverses and echoes the traditional 'ale

$arrior behavior o: *rotecting the :e'ale.

The iron! is that the :e'inist 'ove'ent s*rang in *art :ro' $o'en;s desire not to be*rotected to the *oint o: being cloistered and controlled. Eet here, Ton! seeks to shelterest :ro' the details o: 9enia;s black'ailing *lots and the trth abot $h! 9enia le:thi'. Ton! lets hi' kee* his illsions, and this in *art contribtes to his de:ection. estchases the illsion o: 9enia, an illsion $hich Ton! has the *o$er to stri* all along. @adshe told est the trth, ho$ever, Ton! $old have had to ad'it that est le:t Ton! o:his o$n :ree $ill. It is easier :or Ton! to believe that est $as a *risoner o: $ar ratherthan a de:ector. Si'ilarl!, she recogni7es that est *re:ers to believe that 9enia le:t hi'becase she :elt n$orth!. In seeking to *ro* * est;s ego, Ton! can ignore the :actthat she has si'ilarl! *ro**ed * her o$n.

Eet this section is abot Ton!;s victories, as $ell. Ton!;s :ear that est $ill co''itsicide is the 'ani:estation o: the :ear she harbors :or hersel:. Since her :ather died inthis 'anner, Ton! has *erha*s long $ondered i: she $old o*t :or the sa'e :ate nderthe sa'e circ'stances. In :act, the night est 'oves ot to live $ith 9enia, Ton!seeks ot her :ather;s "er'an *istol. That is a deciding 'o'ent :or Ton!. She *ts the

gn a$a!. She :orces hersel: to get so'e rest. Ro7;s $ellti'ed arrival the net da!gives Ton! an all! in rebilding her broken li:e. The $o'en o: The Robber Brides**orteach other and, together, are able to overco'e ever! crisis.

2/


27/86

)easel *ights, Chapters "+#+

)easel *ights, Chapters "+#+ Summary

Chapter 2,D %haris :ollo$s 9enia and her !ong 'ale co'*anion do$n een Street.%haris darts in and ot o: the cro$d 'ttering a*ologies and s'iling at *anhandlers.%haris doesn;t give the' an! 'one!. She thinks 'one! is bad :or *eo*le. %haris isstartled to reali7e that 9enia;s co'*anion is Ro7;s son arr!, and the! a**ear to bekissing. Farr! 'ight as $ell be drinking li-id drain cleaner.F (*g. 15/) 9enia and arr!get into a cab, and %haris :ollo$s the' in another tai. The! get ot at the Arnold"arden @otel. %haris $atches the' enter.


28/86

$hen he :irst a**eared at her door. Then, he :elt a trblent 'itre o: gilt, co$ardiceand ho'esickness. %haris o::ered hi' $hat co':orts she had.

Chapter 31D Since %haris and Bill! ac-ired the a*art'ent on the Island, Bill!;s nerveshave begn to cal'. @e has be:riended a net$ork o: other eiles like hi'sel:, and the!

'eet on the 'ainland a :e$ ti'es a $eek. So'eti'es %haris has to *t the ne$l!arrived eiles * on her coch :or a :e$ da!s. The eiles engage in cloakanddaggerrotines like sing code na'es. The! $ant to *t ot a ne$s*a*er like other dra:tdodger gro*s have alread! done. Bill! doesn;t have a >ob, bt he doesn;t like %haris tore'ind hi' o: this. Toda! %haris is ehasted b! the end o: her :irst class. In the netclass, a $o'an $ith snglasses catches her e!e. The $o'an;s ara is dark and rotten.ice bar a:ter class. %haris re'e'bers 9enia;sbo!:riend Ste$ and her kind :riend Ton!. %haris recalls the night Ton! sat nder the tree

$ith her, and she recalls 9enia as beati:l and con:ident. She re'e'bers that 9enia$as kno$n :or living $ith Ste$ in an era $hen these things $eren;t done. 9enia tells%haris she has co'e to the !oga class ho*ing it 'ight hel* $ith the cancer. 9enia hasbeaten the cancer once, bt it;s back. 9enia tells %haris she had a h!sterecto'! andcannot bear children. She also tells %haris she retrned to live $ith est a:ter beatingthe cancer, bt est has led her back to their :or'er nhealth! li:est!le. @e drinks andtries to 'ake 9enia eat ani'al :ats, and he hits her. She indicates the black e!e. %harisrecalls est as a gentle 'an, bt she kno$s 'en can *t on a good act. %haris isindignant. est $ants 9enia to have che'othera*!, bt 9enia $ants to cre hersel:.She dissolves into tears and leaves abr*tl!. hen 9enia doesn;t sho$ * :or 6rida!;sclass, %haris $orries abot her. That night, %haris ans$ers a knock on her kitchen door.9enia stands in the rain. She sa!s est has thro$n her ot. %haris o*ens her ar's to

9enia.

Chapter 32D %haris trns the garden on a snless 3ove'ber da!. She kno$s sheshold $ait ntil s*ring, bt she needs to be alone. Bill! and 9enia hant her $herevershe goes, each tr!ing to get her alone and a$a! :ro' the other. The *ressre o: havingto constantl! choose bet$een the' grates on %haris. 9enia;s arrival a 'onth ago $as anice e*erience :or %haris, $ho :eels hel*:l b! taking care o: her. Bill! co'*lains abot9enia;s *resence, thogh. %haris doesn;t see the di::erence bet$een taking in 9eniaand taking in Bill!;s e*atriot :riends. In her 'ind, 9enia;s *resence beco'es a $a! o:asserting hersel: $ith Bill!. %haris earns the 'one!, b!s the :ood, :eeds the hens,tends the garden and *a!s the rent. She decides $ho sta!s and goes.

At :irst, %haris doesn;t nderstand $h! Bill! is so hostile to 9enia. She ecses hisbehavior to her gest. 6inall!, %haris dedces that Bill! is si'*l! a:raid 9enia $ill becareless and get hi' caght. %haris con:ides Bill!;s tre sitation to 9enia, and 9enia*ro'ises not to tell. A:ter a ti'e, 9enia;s co'*leion takes on a healthier tone. Shes'iles 'ore, too. %haris takes *ride in this, believing her ntritional advice and lovings**ort have hel*ed 9enia. Bill! contines to avoid 9enia. @e insists %haris 'ake t$obreak:asts each da! so he doesn;t have to sit at the table $ith 9enia. @e critici7es the

2


29/86


30/86

ne da!, Ron Sloane, a neighbor, drives onto the *ro*ert!. @e :alls ot o: his trck$hen he o*ens the door, and 8aren can see blood dri**ing :ro' his ar'. @e asks :orher grand'other and tells her he;s had an accident $ith the baler. "rand'other assresRon he $ill be :ine. She toches his ar' and sa!s so'e $ords. 8aren can see the *aleble light radiating :ro' "rand'other;s hand. The! drive hi' to the hos*ital, and then

"rand'other tells #rs. Sloane that her hsband $ill be :ine. Another ti'e, "rand'othertakes 8aren to the ce'eter! and sho$s her the headstones she boght :or hersel: and"rand:ather. "rand'other *rchased a headstone in advance so that her daghters,"loria and =i, $oldn;t >st d'* her in a ditch.

%haris $onders i: 8aren loved her grand'other. F;There;s 'ore than one $a! to skin acat,; her grand'other $old sa!, and 8aren $old :linch, becase she cold *ictre hergrand'other actall! skinning one.F (*g. 24) 8aren $atches her grand'other kill thechickens :or eating, and eventall! 8aren learns that there is a ne$ &ink! ever! !earbecase "rand'other kills the *igs :or 'eat. "rand'other in:or's her o: this, sl!l!,

$hile 8aren is eating &ink!;s bacon. 8aren doesn;t >'* * and cr! like her 'other$old have. Instead, she si'*l! sto*s eating bacon, :orever. "rand'other acts as i:8aren;s :ailed a test.

Chapter 35D At the end o: the s''er, 8aren;s 'other does not retrn. Ant =i arrivesto take 8aren back to the cit!. "rand'other gives 8aren a $ishbone. Ant =i and


31/86

naseos hatred behind b! beco'ing %haris, a na'e chosen :ro' her grand'other;sBible. She reaches the age o: 'a>orit! and asks :or her grand'other;s inheritance. =erntells her she can have it $hen she;s t$ent!one. @e allo$s her a :e$ dollars to attendschool, and %haris 'oves into #c%lng @all. =ern ho*es she;s :orgotten his abse, btthe *art o: %haris that is still 8aren re'e'bers ever!thing. %haris tcks little 8aren

a$a!, as i: *tting her in storage. hen she trns t$ent!one, she gets none o: theinheritance 'one!. She decides to go as :ar a$a! :ro' =i and =ern as *ossible,dro**ing ot o: school and hitting the road. She $orks varios >obs and lives on aco''ne :or a $hile. She retrns to her grand'other;s :ar', bt it is no$ a sbdivision.hen she trns t$ent!si, she o::iciall! beco'es %haris. #entall! she envisionsbndling ever!thing she doesn;t $ant in a bag labeled 8aren and d'*ing it into akentario.

Chapter 36D 3o$ 8aren is co'ing back, thogh. %haris can no longer kee* her a$a!.%haris thinks that the resrrected 8aren looks like 9enia. In the night, Bill! $akes *and reaches :or her. 6or once, %haris doesn;t :loat a$a!. She re'ains *resent in herbod! $hile she and Bill! 'ake love. A:ter$ards she :eels resent'ent that she has livedso 'an! !ears $ithot reali7ing ho$ *leasrable se can be. %haris is certain that thisis the night her daghter is conceived. She kno$s $ho the :ather is, bt not the 'other.She $onders i: 8aren or 9enia inhabited her bod! that night. 6ro' no$ on $hen she'akes love to Bill!, she :eels like 9enia. She believes that no$ that she desires Bill!, he

$ill no longer $ant 9enia. ith the hard Island $inter a**roaching, %haris begins toss*ect that she is *regnant. She hasn;t told Bill! !et, and she doesn;t $ant to hrt9enia;s :eelings b! telling her becase 9enia cannot have children de to the cancer.These da!s $hen 9enia 'entions leaving, %haris no longer tells her to sta!.

#ean$hile, Bill! tells %haris that 9enia is :aking the cancer. %haris insists she has ascar :ro' the o*eration, bt Bill! i'*lies there is no scar. 9enia insinates that Bill!

sees other $o'en, bt %haris is 'ore con:ident no$ and not concerned. 9enia tells%haris her 'other $as a Ro'anian g!*s! $ho $as stoned to death dring the $ar b!3a7i s!'*athi7ers. 9enia;s :ather $as a co''nist killed in 6inland $hile :ighting theRssians. %haris, $orried, $onders i: this dark histor! is contribting to 9enia;s cancer.9enia;s health a**ears to be :ailing again.

Chapter 37D The harshness o: an Island $inter $ithot a decent heating s!ste' $earson %haris, Bill! and 9enia. %haris st::s ne$s*a*ers in the dra:ts and tacks blankets tothe $alls :or inslation. ith the :ire going, the hose begins to s'ell like a 'ose;snest. 9enia and Bill! contine to kee* their distance :ro' one another, althogh the!each co'*lain to %haris abot the other. %haris tries to kee* the' ha**! to 'aintain a

*ositive environ'ent :or her gro$ing bab!. In her 'ind, she redecorates the storageroo', $hich has beco'e 9enia;s bedroo', into a bab! roo'. Bill! $ill need to get a >ob,and 9enia needs to leave. FBill! $old have to get o:: his btt. %haris $oldn;t havethoght like this, be:ore the bab!, bt no$ she did.F (*g. 2+2)

%haris tells 9enia :irst abot the bab!. 9enia tells %haris she;s 'ade a big 'istake andthat Bill! doesn;t $ant a child. 9enia sggests abortion. In tears, %haris retreats to herbedroo', $here Bill! :inds her hors later. hen %haris tells hi' abot the bab!, it

1


32/86

sonds like a re*roach. @e reacts badl!. The net 'orning, Bill! takes an earl! :err! intothe cit! $hile 9enia slee*s late. Bill! retrns ho'e drnker than %haris has ever seenhi'. Bill! tells %haris she is st*id and knees her hard in the sto'ach. %haris screa'sthat he;s hrting the bab!. Bill! *ts his head on her sholder and cries. @e tells her thathe tried to $arn her and that there are no scars at all. In the 'orning, %haris goes to

:eed the chickens and :inds the' all dead, their throats slit. @er :irst thoght is that a$easel got into the henhose. She calls :or Bill!, bt he is gone. So is 9enia. %harisrns to the :err! dock, believing Bill! has been kidna**ed. @is doo' and gloo'scenarios $ere correct a:ter all. She arrives in ti'e to see the :err! *ll a$a!. Bill! and9enia stand on the deck, and t$o 'en in overcoats stand nearb!. Bill! sees %haris bttrns his head a$a!.

Back ho'e, %haris :inds a blood! bread kni:e in the sink. 9enia 'rdered her chickens.It occrs to her that Bill! has rn o:: $ith 9enia. That;s $hat he 'eant abot no scars.Bill! has been $ith 9enia. I: there are no scars, then 9enia never had cancer. FBt i:that;s tre, $hat has %haris been doing :or the *ast si 'onthsJ Being a :ool, that;s

$hat. Being st*id. Being so dee*l! st*id it;s a $onder she has a brain at all. Beingbetra!ed. 6or ho$ long, ho$ 'an! ti'esJ @e tried to tell her.F (*g. 2+/) %haris bangsher head so:tl! against the kitchen table. 8aren takes over, and she holds the breadkni:e to %haris;s $rists. %haris s''ons * her grand'other;s light ble energ! and

$ills 8aren a$a!. She *ts the bread kni:e do$n. She s*ends the da! at the table,$aiting :or Bill! to co'e back.

Bill! does not retrn. %haris is :rantic. She calls his :riends, bt no one kno$s an!thing.In des*eration, she re'e'bers est. It occrs to her that est did not give 9enia theblack e!e. @o*ing to track do$n 9enia, she :inds his n'ber at the niversit!. Ton!ans$ers, and %haris e*lains she is looking :or 9enia. %haris re'inds Ton! o: the ti'eshe tried to hel* %haris on the :ront la$n o: #c%lng @all. %haris sa!s she hadn;t

needed Ton!;s hel* be:ore, bt she does no$. hen Ton! learns the *roble' is $ith9enia, she agrees to co'e.

Chapter 3,D Ton! listens to the stor! at %haris;s kitchen table. hen %haris tells Ton!ho$ st*id she;s been, Ton! assres her that 9enia is ver! good at $hat she does. Ton!in:or's %haris that est has not been living $ith 9enia :or over a !ear and a hal:, andshe advises %haris not to look :or Bill!. I: Bill! has been ca*tred, he $ill $rite to %haris.I: Bill! le:t on his o$n, he $on;t $ant to see her. Ton! has given thoght to 9enia;s'ods o*erandi and believes 9enia *re:ers a challenge. Bill! $as eas!, and 9enia $illget bored o: hi' be:ore long. @e 'ight co'e ho'e i: %haris leaves hi' alone. %harisasks, $hat i: he doesn;tJ Ton! shrgs. %haris asks Ton! $h! 9enia killed the chickens.

F;Becase she;s 9enia,; sa!s Ton!. ;Con;t :ret abot 'otives. Attila the @n didn;t have'otives. @e >st had a**etites.F (*g. 2+5) %haris sggests 9enia is 'otivated b! her'other;s greso'e death at the hands o: the Ro'anians, and Ton! *rotests that9enia;s 'other, a hite Rssian, died o: tberclosis. Ton! laghs, bt %haris doesn;tget the >oke.

Ton! cleans * the blood and chicken cor*ses $ith trash bags and a hose. hen Ton!discovers that %haris tried to slit her $rists $ith the blood! bread kni:e, Ton! si'*l!

2


33/86

e*lains that this is not a viable soltion. Ton! 'akes a list o: ever!thing %haris needs:or hersel: and the bab!, bt %haris can;t a::ord an! o: it. Ton! sggests the! brainstor':or $a!s %haris can obtain 'one!. Throgh Ro7, Ton! :inds %haris a la$!er $ho goesa:ter Ant =i and


34/86

The Robber Bride, Chapters -#.-

The Robber Bride, Chapters -#.- Summary

Chapter 39D Ro7 *aces her o::ice, s'oking, eating and $aiting :or her *rivate detectiveto call. She stares in the 'irror. @er 'irror i'age tells her she;s a terri:ic *erson $hoshold have no troble :inding another 'an. Ro7 res*onds that she doesn;t $antanother 'anG she $ants #itch. At ho'e, she $anders do$n to the cellar $here shestores #itch;s things. She :inds the books her children have otgro$n. Ro7 recalls ati'e $hen the t$ins $ere !onger and the!;d $anted ever! character in the stories tobe :e'ale. FThe :irst little *ig bilt his hose o: stra$. Herhose, herhose, shot thes'all voices in her head. The Big Bad ol: :ell do$n the chi'ne!, right into thecaldron o: boiling $ater, and got his :r all brned o::. Her:r It;s odd $hat a di::erenceit 'akes, changing the *ronon.F (*g. 251) It sed to a'a7e Ro7 ho$ bloodthirst! thegirls $ere. The! loved the athentic :air! tale books Ant Ton! gave the'. nce, Ton!had read the' The Robber Bride%roo, bt the t$ins had insisted the characters be:e'ale. Ton! changed the stor! to The Robber Bride, bt the t$ins insisted that thevicti's be $o'en as $ell. Ro7 thinks o: 9enia, bt she decides The Robber Brideis too'elodra'atic. Ro7 *re:ers to think o: 9enia as Fan *'arket slt. The Rbber Broad is'ore like it her and those *ne'atic tits.F (*g. 25) Ro7 cries over her o$n coldness.She tried so hard to be nrtring and kind, bt she :eels stri**ed o: her good $ill.

Chapter 40D Ro7;s stor! $ith 9enia begins in #a! o: 15, $hen Ro7 is :ar enogh *ast:ort! to be co':ortable $ith hersel: and her looks. Ro7 ss*ects her hsband #itch ishaving another a::air. Ro7 thinks she shold have 'arried so'eone less handso'e.#itch shold have 'arried a gorgeos blond ice *rincess $ho cold have handled hi',

not so'eone like Ro7 $ho *ts * $ith his cra*. #itch $akes * and sho$ers, and Ro7:ollo$s hi' into their oversi7ed bathroo'. She considers sho$ering $ith hi', bt sinceshe ss*ects he;s having an a::air, she hesitates to let hi' co'*are her bod! $ith hiscrrent 'istress;. She kno$s that $hen the 'istress starts to e*ect 'ore than se,#itch $ill leave her. FIt;s a'a7ing the $a! #itch can >st $rite these $o'en o::. Sink histeeth into the', s*it the' ot, and Ro7 is e*ected to clean * the 'ess. 6ire o: hisloins and then "ipe, like a blackboard, and a:ter that he can barel! re'e'ber theirna'es. Ro7 is the one $ho re'e'bers. Their na'es, and ever!thing else abot the'.F(*g. 25/)

Ro7 has been throgh the c!cle 'an! ti'es. 6irst #itch begins sing a:tershave on his

groin. @e beco'es 'ore attentive, *ressing her $ith Flittle :orgive'e kisses, btnothing that 'ight be constred as :ore*la!F (*g. 25/). @e o::ers nasked :or ecses:or his behavior. hen he gets tired o: the $o'an, he gets careless, leaving cles :orRo7 to :ind. At this *oint, Ro7;s role is to thro$ a scene and de'and he end the a::air.#itch ses Ro7 as an ecse to get o:: the hook $ith the 'istress. @e tells Ro7 that sheis the 'ost i'*ortant $o'an in his li:e. atel!, thogh, Ro7 has re:sed to *la! her *art.She ignores the *hone bills and 'atchbooks. The 'istress starts 'aking de'ands, and#itch :eels tra**ed. @e starts leaving *ersonal letters arond :or Ro7 to read. She

4


35/86


36/86

#itch, ho$ever, is irritated b! the interr*tion. Ro7 atte'*ts to *lacate 9enia :or #itch;sobvios anno!ance. 9enia con:ides that Ro7;s :ather saved 9enia;s li:e in the $ar. She

$ants to tell Ro7 abot it. 9enia;s invitation is one that Ro7 can;t re:se.

Chapter 42D Ro7;s :ather is the great nkno$n in her li:e. She $as once Rosalind Agnes

"reen$ood instead o: Ro7 "rn$ald. @er 'other ran a roo'ing hose, and her :atherhad been a$a! at $ar as long as Ro7 cold re'e'ber. The $ar had ended, thogh.@er 'other said he $as on his $a!. There $as al$a!s a third chair $aiting :or hi'arond the kitchen table. Ro7;s 'other $orked ver! hard to rn the roo'ing hose inthe absence o: her hsband. ne o: the roo'ers told Ro7 her 'other $as a saint, andthis did not ins*ire Ro7 to $ant to beco'e one. Ro7 and her 'other $orked like 'aidsto kee* the boarding hose clean. The roo'ers $ere not allo$ed to s'oke or 'ake a'ess, since the *lace al$a!s had to be decent :or Ro7;s :ather;s retrn. Ro7;s 'othersent her to %atholic school and took her to chrch, bt she never $ent inside. At chrch,Ro7 learns that Hess;s death is the He$s; :alt. At school, Ro7;s school'ates 'ake :no: the Cis*laced &ersons :ro' the $ar, i''igrants $ho barel! s*eak nglish.So'ething ns*oken se*arates Ro7 :ro' her school'ates. The nns are a$are o: it,bt Ro7 is not.

Chapter 43D ventall!, Ro7;s :ather retrns. Ro7 co'es ho'e :ro' school to :ind agro* o: adlt 'ale C&s sitting arond her kitchen table, s'oking and drinking. A :e$'intes later, 'other arrives $ith groceries, looking *leased. #other sa!s nothing abotthe s'oke or the alcohol. She tells Ro7 these 'en are her :ather;s :riends. 6atherarrives in the 'iddle o: the night. hen she sees hi', Ro7 reali7es he is a C&. Ro7;snbending 'other !ields all athorit! to Ro7;s :ather. There is 'ore hose$ork thanbe:ore $ith three *eo*le, bt &a*a never hel*s. The C&s, Ro7;s Fncles,F 'ove into thecellar. The other tenants get *set becase the C&s are allo$ed to s'oke and drink.Ro7 learns that her :ather is *art He$ish. She hears $his*ers o: things done to the He$s

and begins to :eel that she;s been lied to abot the $ar. She reads 'rder '!steries toesca*e :ro' her concerns.

Chapter 44D #rs. #orle!, $ho Ro7;s ncles call a FbabeF as o**osed to a Flad!F likeRo7;s #o', loses her >ob. She 'o*es arond the hose. Ro7;s 'other sa!s she shold*ll hersel: together, bt &a*a is s!'*athetic. ne da! Ro7 retrns :ro' school to :indall o: #rs. #orle!;s things stre$n on the la$n. @er 'other is $hite:aced and tells her#rs. #orle! $on;t be back. Ro7 does not connect this $ith her :ather ntil he sho$s *arond dinnerti'e. @is 'anner is sbded. #other asks ho$ he cold do it a:ter shesacri:iced so 'ch :or hi'. &a*a re*lies that he :elt sorr! :or her becase she $ascr!ing. Cinner is silent a:ter that, bt &a*a $inks secretl! at Ro7. She reali7es he is

*tting on an act. 3onetheless, over ti'e, her 'other so:tens.

nl! !ears later, in high school, does Ro7 *t it all together. Ro7 doesn;t kno$ $hatarrange'ent her *arents had, bt her 'other $as a constant $hile the 'istresseschanged reglarl!. She recalls ho$ her *arents 'et. @er 'other sa$ her :ather beingbeaten * b! :or thgs and $aded into the :ra! to save his li:e. She screa'ed at theto* o: her lngs and beat the 'iscreants $ith her grocer! bag. A:ter$ards, she nrsed&a*a back to health. hether it $as love or gratitde, &a*a 'arried her. Ro7 eventall!

/


37/86

learned that the $edding had not been %atholic, and ths her 'other had *t hersel:into a *er'anent state o: sin :or &a*a.

nce &a*a retrns, 'one! begins to a**ear. @e sa!s he;s $on it at the track. Ro7;sncles 'ove ot o: the cellar and into the roo'ing hose *ro*er. ne da!, there is

sddenl! a lot o: 'one!. @er *arents sell the roo'ing hose and 'ove into a largehose $ith a threecar garage. Ro7;s 'other is nco':ortable in this ne$ environ'ent.hen deliver!'en co'e to the door, the! ass'e she is the 'aid. @er *arents changetheir na'e back to "rn$ald, and Ro7 learns that it had been A'ericani7ed to"reen$ood becase He$ish na'es $ere dangeros dring the $ar. Ro7 renonces%atholicis' :or Hdais', bt &a*a re:ses to >oin a te'*le. Ro7 :eels like a h!brid at herne$ school, $here 'ost o: the stdents are He$ish. She is ne$ 'one! and :eels shelacks class. FRo7 can see that she $ill never be *rettier, daintier, thinner, seier, orharder to i'*ress than these girls are. She decides instead to be s'arter, :nnier, andricher, and once she has 'anaged that the! can all kiss her :ann!.F (*g. 42) Ironicall!,at her high school renion later on she discovers that these girls had not been an!ha**ier than she $as. To the', Ro7 al$a!s see'ed so cheer:l. A:ter high school, Ro7chooses #c%lng @all becase it is nondeno'inational. She has b! no$ d'*ed bothHdais' and %atholicis', or so she thinks.

Chapter 45D Eears a:ter her *arents die, Ro7 visits one o: her C& ncles in the hos*ital.@e is d!ing, and she convinces hi' to tell her $here her :ather;s 'one! ca'e :ro'. @erncle tells her &a*a $as a :ier, both hero and crook. The 'en stole He$ish *ro*ert! incollsion $ith the 3a7is, althogh so'eti'es the! resced He$s as $ell. @er nclebelieves he $as heroic. Ro7 is not so sre. She doesn;t tell #itch abot the 'one!;ssorce. She is asha'ed, bt she also reali7es that old 'one! also co'es :ro' schsorces. It;s >st been :rther re'oved in ti'e :ro' its dirt! origins. To co'*ensate, Ro7gives to 'an! charitable cases.

In the seventies, Ro7 is *regnant $ith arr! and learns :or the :irst ti'e abot #itch;sin:idelit!. She >oins the $o'en;s gro*s so *o*lar in the da!, bt she :inds that theother $o'en have troble s!'*athi7ing $ith her becase o: her 'one!. Eet, $hen the:e'inist coo*erative 'aga7ine i#eoa!orldbegins to go nder, the! trn to Ro7.She b!s a 'a>orit! share and *ts #itch on the board o: directors. She kno$s i: #itchdoes not *artici*ate he $ill sabotage, so she ignores the :e'inist otcr! against having'en on the board. 6or this sa'e reason, Ro7 tells #itch that 9enia is co'ing over :or adrink. I: she doesn;t tell hi' in advance, he $ill slk. Ro7 calls Ton! at the @istor!Ce*art'ent and tells her that 9enia is back in to$n. Ton! $arns her to be care:l, btRo7 believes 9enia has changed. nl! later does Ro7 reali7e that 9enia sed Ro7;s

*ride to get in the door. Ro7 $ants so des*eratel! to believe her :ather $as a hero.

Chapter 46D hen 9enia arrives at Ro7;s hose :or the drink, Ro7 is e'barrassedbecase her seven!earold t$in girls have >st given the'selves *nk rock hairdos.Ro7 :ies drinks and kee*s * a nonsto* strea' o: *atter to *t her and 9enia at ease.hen Ro7 has 'ade a big enogh :ool o: hersel: to break the tension, she asks 9eniaabot her :ather.

+


38/86


39/86

The content o: the 'aga7ine beco'es lighter, and 9enia is no$ too bs! to have$eekl! lnches $ith Ro7. At the net 'eeting, Ro7 -estions 9enia abot the change ineditorial direction. 9enia de:ends her choices based on de'ogra*hics. Ro7 is the'a>orit! shareholder. She cold :orce 9enia ot, bt not $ithot see'ing vindictive.Besides, 9enia is 'aking the' 'one!.

ne da!, #itch 'oves in $ith 9enia. Ro7 is stnned to reali7e that an entire cortshi*has gone on right nder her nose. #itch clai's that it $as sdden. @e tells Ro7 that heloves both her and 9enia and that this is ver! di::iclt :or hi'. She tells hi' to F;"etst::ed.F; (*g. /) #itch re'oves his things $hen Ro7 is gone, bt he also leavesthings behind. This gives Ro7 ho*e bt 'akes it i'*ossible :or her to 'ove on. As shetallies his things, she reali7es ho$ little #itch had hel*ed acc'late. #a!be this $asher 'istake. She gave #itch ever!thing he cold $ant instead o: letting hi' *rovide :orher. #a!be he got tired o: being resced. #a!be he $ants to do so'e rescing o: hiso$n. Ro7 gives into her 'orbid criosit! and hires a *rivate detective.

@arriet the @ngarian is a contact Ro7 'ade throgh her ncles. She learns #itch and9enia are living in a *enthose a*art'ent overlooking the harbor $here #itch kee*s hisboat. @arriet cannot trace 9enia;s *ast in Berlin and asks Ro7 $hat evidence she hasbesides

The Robber Bride Study Guide

Documents

Transcript of The Robber Bride Study Guide