SUMMER- Part 1

The first passage that I picked can be found on p.19:
"I know Mr. Royall is... trying at times; but his wife bore with him; and you must always remember, Charity, that it was Mr. Royall who brought you down from the mountain."-----------------------------------
I chose this passage because it struck me as interesting and was also infuriating. The woman obviously knows what Charity is going through at the hands of Mr. Royall, and she almost says its what she deserves. She is putting Charity in her place, and saying she has to take what he does to her because he was so very generous bringing her down from the "savages." It really made me think of the era the book was written in and how people knew of the things that go on behind closed doors, but they certainly don't speak of them. That's just the way it is. You turn your head at the "unmentionable" actions and sum it up to the man's in charge and he can do what he wants. It makes me sick.
This passage made me think of "The Thirty Eighth Year" where the woman lays there and takes her husband basically raping her. The idea that men can do what they want if they're in charge of you. Like your husband, or guardian.

The second passage that I chose is on p.57-57:
"I saw you take out a dollar to give to that poor woman. Why did you put it back?" He reddened, and leaned forward to flick a swamp-fly from the horse's neck. "I wasn't sure---"
"Was it because you knew they were my folks, and you thought I'd be ashamed to see you give them money?"
He turned to her with eyes full or reproach. "Oh Charity---" It was the first time he had ever called her by her name. Her misery welled over.
"I ain't- I ain't ashamed. They're my people, and I ain't ashamed of them," she sobbed.
"My dear..." he murmured, putting his arm about her; and she leaned against him and wept out her pain.---------------------------------
I chose this passage because it moved me. It was very vivid and interesting to picture, easy to picture. They obviously have something between them, and Charity is so embarrassed by him knowing the mountain people are her "people." She hates where she comes from and hates that about herself. This passage really made me think of the two stories about the young girls who are ridiculed for their nationalities, "The Schooldays of an Indian Girl" and "Leaves from the Mental Portfolio of an Eurasian." All three girls face ridicule because of where they're from (or in the case of the two previously read narratives, their nationality.) It's just another example of prejudices at work and how hurtful they are. I really felt for Charity in this scene, it was very moving.