Tuesday, April 26, 2011

THE STRENGTH OF WOMEN:THE DAUGHTERS OF MARY

Lily is motherless and actually feels the void in her life because of it. She clings to the small group of possessions that once belonged to her mother. The absence of Deborah becomes a primary influence, so that even in death, her mother has an indelible influence in Lily's life. In Rosaleen, Lily does have female companionship and Lily looks to her for the only love that she has even known from anyone.

Rosaleen's arrest catapults both of them into a larger and more satisfying group of women. In a time where men ruled the world, Lily and Rosaleen entered into a world composed almost entirely of women, with women who actually ruled the home. Although the Boatwright sisters seem to all have a voice, August is the head of the house....make no mistake. Still, all three women are strong willed in their own way, and each is in charge of her own destiny, and well aware of that. Actually, Rosaleen took her destiny into her own hands when she faced off with the town bigots and bullies.

The rest of the Daughters of Mary are also in the picture. Lily is given a look into the way that strong women can support, comfort, take care of, encourage and love each other. She sees the bonds formed by all of these women, and her inclusion in the group empowers Lily to feel strong enough to also take her destiny in her own hands. Because of the love and support of the women, she is able to stand up to T-Ray, something she has never done before. She does this fearlessly because she has the encouragement and support of August and the other women.

2 comments:

  1. Lily needed these mother figures in her life, especially since she was becoming a woman and entering the world of puberty and relationships. She needed the indelible influences of Rosaleen and August because, without them, she would not have known what to do about her changing body and changing attitudes towards the opposite sex. She would also have continued to remain within the clutch of T. Ray, maybe not physically, but she would forever be indebted to him.

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