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| "Still Life with a Skull and a Writing Quill" (1628) by Pieter Claesz |
What do you think of the recommendation by a fellow patient that the narrator write letters to her kids “just in case” (106) (a fellow patient who she says she no longer sees – for “good or bad” on 116)?
Why do you think the narrator focuses on writing lists (like the one on page 106) and not letters (the kind of "sentimental"thing someone like Maggie might do [106])?
What does this say about the kind of person she is?
I personally like the idea of writing letters to her children. I feel like writing to them, even if "just in case" never happens is a good idea, because 1. It can be helpful for her to get out her own thoughts and feelings without having to find someone to talk to about them, and 2. If her children ever read them, they will have a better insight into her mind during this time, as well as having a piece of her for the "just in case".
ReplyDeleteNot everyone is a writer and some may struggle with expressing their thoughts and feelings through letters. I feel that the narrator is someone who grew up with the mindset of keeping her emotions and thoughts to herself (like her mother did), and the idea of writing down her feelings would feel like exposing her most private parts of herself to whoever has access to read the letters. With the lists, she can keep them less personal, while still helping to get her thoughts on paper.
Kaitlyn, I agree with your take of writing things down. I've noticed in my life that ever since I started to journal more, it has been easier to express my thoughts not only aloud but to myself as well.
ReplyDeleteI think the key difference between a list and a letter is like mentioned; a letter is "just in case," which gives off the impression that the narrator has to confront the possibility that she may not be there for her children. Whereas a list seems more practical and allows her to "remain in control." Having the ability, or at least thinking she has the ability, to "remain in control" fits with her character as she she seems more comfortable doing something concrete than sitting with an emotionally vulnerable thought. For example, when thinking about "starting over" after her relationship with Sam, rather than just sitting with the emotional loss of her marriage, she analyzes what starting over means and whether it is even a possibility given her cancer. - Noah Nnochirionye
So, my mother passed away from breast cancer when I was only 7 years old. Every memory I do have of her I greatly cherish.
ReplyDeleteAt one point in my life my grandmother brought me up to her room. She said “Jamsie
“Jamsie come up here I want to give ya something” in her Brooklyn accent. I think I was around 15 years old at the time. What she gave me was my mother’s Journal and she explained to me my mom had been writing in it while she was staying at the hospital before she passed away.
DeleteThat journal is very important to me. One of the things I will never forget reading is my mother talking about how much pain she was in and that a woman came from the church and told her that sometimes even just breathing is prayer.
Anyways I think it was very wise advice of her to receive in writing letters to her children “just in case”.
I don't know if I personally could handle receiving a letter from a loved one like that. Sometimes when you're left with the last words of someone you care about it's something to cherish and have to look back on when you miss them. On the other hand, if I was at a low point and received something like that, I know myself well enough that it might put me in a worse place rather than uplift me. Granted it would depend a lot on what the letter said, so I ultimately think that it would be for better than for worse.
ReplyDelete