Taking into consideration the quiz questions for pages 49-71, what struck you as most significant in pages 71-97 and why? Focus, for example, on a specific symbol, "form," or exchange and discuss its contribution to characterization, theme, tone, etc.
Elgin Branches character change shocked me because before I thought he had betrayed his family, but now I see him as someone who made a mistake is trying his best to fix it. The emails and faxes from Soo-Lin make it sound that Elgin and her are in love showing Elgin has betrayed his family, but then in part 6 Elgin regains hope of finding Bernadette and even gives her her locket and a note with a list of 4 miracles she had created. The note he gave Bernadette reversed my view of him because it shows how much he cares about his family and signifying his support of Bernadette until she has 18 miracles.
ReplyDeleteElgin's attitude toward Bee and her hope that Bernadette was still alive struck me the most because he was so closed minded and he had no compassion. Elgin was aggressively forcing Bee to 'look at the facts' of what happened to Bernadette even Elgin's job forces him to think outside the box, and because of Elgin's close mindedness, he couldn't see the many other explanations to the disappearance of Bernadette. Elgin has proved that he can be patient and compassionate by being with Bernadette through hard times, but when it came to Bee and her hope, Elgin lost his temper and became harsh on Bee.
ReplyDeleteIn Part V of "Where'd You Go Bernadette", I was struck by Audrey Griffin's overall grounding as a person, and the result, which alters the story profoundly. When faced with the information about Bernadette, Audrey realizes that her actions could be sending a mother to mental hospital, therefore tearing her own facade of a loving mother apart. She becomes determined to help Bernadette, and as a result, is the one to help Bernadette escape the intervention.
ReplyDeleteSoo-Lin's confession of her love for Elgin gave us a better understanding about her being both a desperate and lonely person willing to do anything to get what she wants. The fact that she has fallen in love with Elgin after working with him for such a short time is alarming, showing her desperation driven by loneliness. On the other hand, she uses this self pity to trap Elgin through her damsel in destress act tearing Elgin and Bernadette apart, which destroys their family leaving Bee to suffer on her own.
ReplyDeleteAudrey's character changes drastically throughout Part V in the book "Where'd You Go, Bernadette." Audrey finally admits that her child, Kyle, is a drug addict and that there is something wrong with him; throughout the entire book Audrey blames other people for her son's mistakes which suddenly changes in Part V creating shock value and altering Audrey's character. She also helps her sworn enemy, Bernadette Fox, escape from her home without being caught by someone; even Bernadette stands in shock when Audrey shows up.
ReplyDeleteThe jigsaw puzzles symbolizes Bee's family. Bee mentioned when trying to find something on the cruise boat that she loved puzzles, but that there was no reason to do them unless they had all the pieces; this shows how their is no reason for Bee to put effort into or love a family without Bernadette. Puzzles are also used to describe the ice in the antarctic and how they would just bounce off of each other; this shows how Bee's family is looking for the last member of their family without success.
ReplyDeleteThe idea that struck me the most in Part VI, is the relationship between Elgin and Bee. While Bernadette is lost Bee's relationship with her father, Elgin, seems to fluctuate in feeling, especially in Antarctica. Bee's only reason for being in Antarctica is to find her mother; however, while searching for her mother she is faced with naturalist being brutally honest about what they think happened to Bernadette. The phrases spoken by the naturalist upset be to a point of needing comfort; even though Bee has been rude and told her father that she hated him, she still looks for his comfort after this incident. Unfortunately, Bee did not receive the comfort from her father that she desired; Maria Semple expresses this by writing: "I shoved my way past him into the room and slammed the door. I waited for him to come back in, but he didn't" (266).
ReplyDeleteThe twisted towel bunny tied by the housekeeper represents Bee's mother, and Bee's feelings of loss. The bunny wears Bernadette's notorious dark glasses and outfit, providing Bee with a constant reminder of her loss. The bunny symbolizes Bee's feelings of loss by providing an image of her lost mother.
ReplyDeleteWhat struck me the most was the relationship between Elgin and Bee: the two couldn't understandably get along after Bee returned from Choate, but in Antarctica they talked their differences out. When Bee came back to Seattle she was extremely mad at both Elgin and Soo-Lin for losing Bernadette. Surprisingly in Antarctica, after multiple days, Bee and Elgin sat down after an unsuccessful attempt to find Bernadette. Elgin, who had already tried to make up, was completely honest about Soo-Lin, Bernadette and MS with Bee, which made the two to found common ground again.
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