August 8, 2014
A) Jeannette's job at the jewelry store allows her independence because it is a way for her to make her own money. If she really wanted to, she could buy herself food or something that she really wanted instead of giving it to her mom for the whole family. Except in her case, she gives it to her mom so that her dad can spend her hard-earned money on booze. Journalism gives her independence because it is something that she can finish herself. Even though she does ask her dad to help her with one article, she is capable of finishing her writing without help entirely. They both give her independence because with them comes time that she can be alone without any of her siblings or parents bothering her. It's her release from her less than stellar life. She doesn't have to worry about all of her problems at either place because she has her mind set on getting her work done.
B) The move to New York symbolizes another turning point in Jeannette's life because she is finally away from what has been holding her back all of these years. New York represents the new life that she is starting. It gives her the opportunity to go to college and succeed. The move fulfills her dream of being able to live in a nice apartment and being able to feed herself and the rest of her siblings. She not only wanted what was best for her, but for her siblings as well. I would say that this is a more justifiable move for Jeannette because she needed to get away from her parents. They were holding her back both physically and mentally. Physically they were taking money from her and her sister, and mentally they were keeping them in such a negative community.
C) Jeannette's parents choose to continue living on the streets because they have become accustomed to it. It has been working for them so far, so they don't feel like they need to change it. They have the mindset of the saying, "If it's not broken, don't fix it." Her parents also choose to continue their old lifestyle because they have too much pride in it. They think of it as an adventure or a game. Their goal is to show people that it is possible to stay alive without the luxuries that most people have. Even though their children offer them money, food, and shelter, they have too much pride to accept pity and help from them. They continue the path that they were on when they wouldn't take anything from the welfare or any other resource.
D) Maureen stabbed her mother because Rose Mary finally decided to take charge of one of her children. She had decided that it was time for Maureen to move out and live on her own. Rose Mary even tried to tell Maureen that "God helps those who help themselves." Maureen didn't like the idea of her own mother kicking her out onto the streets. She was so enraged that Maureen stabbed her mother. Jeannette apologized because she felt like it was all her fault that Maureen had turned out the way that she had. She said, "Once she had arrived, I'd been too busy taking care of myself to look after her." She blames herself for everything that Maureen did, even though their parents should be the ones apologizing.
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