Chapter 6 Flashcards
I was thinking that you might make a gingerbread man, and I could name him Charles and eat him.
ANALYSIS
* The idea of making a gingerbread man named Charles and eating him symbolises Merricat’s desire to eliminate this threat in a way that is consistent with her unique, almost child-like perspective.
* Merricat’s imaginative act of resistance, though seemingly whimsical, reflects a dark and urgent desire to reclaim control over her environment.
the thought of a ring around my finger always made me feel tied tight
ANALYSIS
* Merricat associates the ring with entrapment, a sentiment that underscores her aversion to societal norms and conventions, particularly those related to traditional female roles such as marriage.
* Reveals Merricat’s fear of confinement and her desire for freedom and autonomy
MESSAGE
* Jackson challenges traditional notions of femininity and advocates for female independence and agency.
Sensible people don’t go around nailing this kind of valuable thing to trees
ANALYSIS
* Merricat utilises these objects as sympathetic fortifications while Charles, representing the patriarchal capitalist, is fuelled by greed and deeply treasures valuable items for personal monetary gain and power.
MESSAGE
* Jackson critiques the patriarchal and capitalist values of society, and advocates the need for society to question and challenge such norms
RELATED QUOTE
“perhaps Charles and money found each other no matter how far apart they were”
“On the moon,” Constance said, and laughed unpleasantly.
ANALYSIS
* Charle’s arrival has caused a sudden shift Constance’s perception of the world, critising herself for allowing Merricat to indulge in such useless fantasies; she longer is complicit of Merricat’s vision for an isolated uptoia of the females.
* Showcases the tension between the sisters’ need for safety and the reality of their situation
MESSAGE
* Constance’s unpleasant laugh could also be seen as Jackson’s commentary on the harsh reality that such escapes are often just fantasies, unattainable in the real world
Does we mean you and Charles
ANALYSIS
* Merricat’s loyalty with her sister Constance is betrayed, in which Constance’s stops her usual tolerance of Merricat’s whims and siding with Charles
* The directive to restrain Merricat’s wandering is an attempt to impose control and limit her freedom, which Merricat resists
