Once again I enjoyed the reading. This third section finally gave me some answers to the questions that I have been contemplating as I read sections one and two. For example, I finally found out why these letters are so important. They give Mattie the answers to Grace Brown's death! As Mattie has been reading the letters to and from Chester Gillette, she notices that Chester seems to have his best times sailing on a canoe. Grace of course died drowning. She concludes that Chester knew how to handle a canoe well and could swim. Mattie is no fool, and is able to put two and two together. When talking about herself she says, "She feels sick, so sick she could vomit. Because she thinks she knows why Chester brought Grace here. And it wasn't to elope," (238). As much as Mattie doesn't want to believe it she feels that Chester murdered Grace. I sympethize with Mattie at this time because she is faced with a huge dilemma. What does she do at this point? I'm sure she is scared and doesn't know if she should tell someone or not. She must be feeling so many emotions that I can only begin to imagine must feel like all bundled into one.
Also, I know that it has been mentioned over and over, but I am still not over the fact that the times have changed so dramatically. 1906 may as well be a foreign land, nevermind a different time. At the very beginning of the section Lou is astonished when she sees an automobile. Mattie says, "It could only be some well-heeled driving it, or Mr. Sperry, or Miss. Wilcox. No one else could afford one," (193). This made me appreciate everything I have and how most people are much better off today. Today, I don't think I know any family that doesn't own at least one car. My family has three. However, in Mattie's day it was more common for a family to not own an automobile of some sort. Another example of how the times have changed is displayed when Mattie is talking about the poem by Emily Baxter (Miss Wilcox) and says, "Would only women be allowed to vote?" (208). I think sometimes we take for granted how equal our time has become in the United States. This quote reminds us of a time when only men could vote and women didn't have as many rights as American men did. Thankfully, times have changed and we are all equals in the eyes of our government.
I have enjoyed the first three sections of this book very much, and am really looking forward to what the end of the novel may have in store.
Also, I know that it has been mentioned over and over, but I am still not over the fact that the times have changed so dramatically. 1906 may as well be a foreign land, nevermind a different time. At the very beginning of the section Lou is astonished when she sees an automobile. Mattie says, "It could only be some well-heeled driving it, or Mr. Sperry, or Miss. Wilcox. No one else could afford one," (193). This made me appreciate everything I have and how most people are much better off today. Today, I don't think I know any family that doesn't own at least one car. My family has three. However, in Mattie's day it was more common for a family to not own an automobile of some sort. Another example of how the times have changed is displayed when Mattie is talking about the poem by Emily Baxter (Miss Wilcox) and says, "Would only women be allowed to vote?" (208). I think sometimes we take for granted how equal our time has become in the United States. This quote reminds us of a time when only men could vote and women didn't have as many rights as American men did. Thankfully, times have changed and we are all equals in the eyes of our government.
I have enjoyed the first three sections of this book very much, and am really looking forward to what the end of the novel may have in store.
I too liked how we finally got some answers about the whole Grace Brown letters thing. The author does a great job of going between the mystery of the letters and the rest of Mattie’s eventful life. The story weaves flawlessly between the two aspects and it makes for a very enjoyably read. It seems like Mattie may have figured out the mystery but the facts are so grim she doesn’t want to accept them. Honestly, I don’t blame her. I think it’s safe to say that we have all convinced ourselves that something is false even though it is quite likely that it’s true. That’s exactly what Mattie is doing with these letters. In her case, the lie she tells herself won’t really have an impact on her because she was never actually involved in the event in question. At the same time, she is too attached to the letters to accept the harsh reality of what probably happened. She has almost made a friend in the late Grace Brown. The exchanged only a few words in person but through these letters, Mattie has studied Grace’s character and learned what kind of person she was and what was going on in her life. But the question is, can you really know someone by simply reading letters? I think it’s possible, but only if those letters were never meant for public eyes.
ReplyDeleteBeing able to finally put the pieces together about graces death is great and it is about time. The author has been doing a great job of leaving us wanting to know more and more about what happened to Grace Brown. As you had said this topic has been discussed a lot throughout the reading of this book, and that is the huge differences in cultures during that time period and now. It is interesting to see that the girls had known who the driver of the car could have possibly been. I also appreciate everything that I have because not having a car would be a very difficult life to deal with. You bring up a good point when you say that we sometimes take equal rights for granted because back during the time period where this book takes place rights were only given to men, and only men were allowed to vote. Now every person is equal thankfully and everyone above age 18 is allowed to vote. I also enjoyed the first three sections of the book and I'm ready to see the finish in this ending section of the book.
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