Author Archives: Grace Marie Burton

Q: What are some of her [Offred] small scale acts of rebellion? Offred’s action of “shaking her hips” at the officers at the gate is one of the most significant acts of minimal rebellion. The scene leading up to this act is filled with tension, mostly of the sexual variety. She flirts with the guards,Continue reading “Response Questions- (4/2/20)”

Q.) Consider the trope of the fallen women in literature and film. What message does the trope usually send? How does Edna’s story extend or counter that message? When thinking of this trope of the fallen woman, one character comes to mind for me. Sharon Tate’s character Jennifer in the 1967 film Valley of theContinue reading “Response Q’s – 3/31/20”

In the beginning of the novel, I was nervous that the tale of Edna would develop into a tragedy. With her mild flirtation with Robert and ever expanding voice, particularly when she tells Léonce to not speak to her in the way he was, I couldn’t help but go to a dark place when consideringContinue reading “Week #10 – Edna’s plight”

Q: Explain the title. What is Edna awakening from or to? The Awakening is speaking to Edna’s slow realization to her lifetime of oppression. While not as oppressed as many other characters in the novel, namely the unnamed house workers supporting the wealthy characters, Edna has definitely experienced her own sort of oppression that theContinue reading “Response Questions – 3/19/20”

Q.) Edna and Adele are friends, but clearly foils of each other. How? Edna and Adele are clearly friends, that is an indisputable fact of the novel. It’s especially present within the scene of them sitting in the sun together in chapter 7. However, there is a present divide between them that prevents them fromContinue reading “Response Question- 3/17/20”

Finally! We get to the conclusion of Jane’s progress. As much as I still dislike Rochester (I mean he’s a manipulative jerk), he does make Jane incredibly happy and brings her infinite joy, which she deserves after a life of awful suffering. It was also gave me some sense of justice that Rochester was blindedContinue reading “Week #8 – Jane’s Conclusion”

Since leaving Thornfield, life for Jane starts to become more focused on herself. While she still thinks of Rochester, which makes total sense, she still mainly sticks to getting herself into a better position. While, it’s honestly strange to watch her have a sort of “lost weekend” period of being homeless after going through suchContinue reading “Week #7- Jane Gets her Groove Back”

It’s a special time for me personally to reread Jane Eyre, as the last time I read it was around this time of of year a decade ago. It’s strange how something that hasn’t changed at all can have a totally different meaning when you pick it up again. I almost relate to the childContinue reading “#5 – Oh, how the memories come flooding back”

So, last week I said that I understood Mrs.Hammond’s motivation for basically using her daughters, selling them away to husband’s to secure her own future wealth and prospects. After this most recent reading however, I don’t know if I totally understand her motivations to keep Emily away from Kelroy. Aside from the obvious (her shallowContinue reading “#4- I’ve Changed my Mind”

I haven’t fully come to enjoy the Austen style of “novels of manners” until recently as I’ve matured. Reading Kelroy now, it’s officially solidified my love for the “sentimental novel” (whatever that means). It’s truly a shame that a novel this well written has been somewhat lost in the shuffles of history. I feel like,Continue reading “Blog Post #3- Kelroy”