Skip to main content

What reasons does Miss Franny give for the Civil War in Kate DiCamillo's Because of Winn-Dixie?

In Chapter 15 of Kate DiCamillo's Because of Winn-Dixie, Opal goes to the library to pick out something to read aloud to Gloria as a nice surprise for her. Not knowing what an elderly woman might like to read, Opal asks Miss Franny, the librarian, for a suggestion, who recommends Gone with the Wind, which she explains is a "wonderful story about the Civil War." Miss Franny continues further to explain the Civil...

In Chapter 15 of Kate DiCamillo's Because of Winn-Dixie, Opal goes to the library to pick out something to read aloud to Gloria as a nice surprise for her. Not knowing what an elderly woman might like to read, Opal asks Miss Franny, the librarian, for a suggestion, who recommends Gone with the Wind, which she explains is a "wonderful story about the Civil War." Miss Franny continues further to explain the Civil War to Opal and tell about her great-grandfather's involvement in the war.

When Opal says she knows the Civil War was fought over slavery between the North and the South, Miss Franny agrees with her but adds the following interpretation:



Slavery, yes, ... . It was also about states' rights and money. It was a terrible war. (Ch. 15)



In speaking of states' rights, she means that the Southern states had felt it unconstitutional for the Federal Government to interfere with their desire to uphold slavery since the Constitution legitimized separate state governments as well as the Federal Government. In speaking of money, Miss Franny is referring to the fact that slavery was such a central part of the Southern economy that, again, the Southern states did not feel the Federal Government had a right to infringe upon their desires to uphold slavery.

Miss Fanny continues to explain that her great-grandfather fought in the war on the Confederate side. He started fighting at the age of fourteen after the Battle of Fort Sumter. After the war, he returned home to find his house had been burnt to the ground, his sisters and mother had died of typhoid, and his father had died in battle. Wanting to sweeten the world after such a terrible calamity as the Civil War, he got the idea to manufacture his own candy, made with a secret recipe of sweetness and sorrow.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Can you analyze the poem "Absolution" by Siegfried Sassoon?

Sure! Siegfried Sassoon fought in World War I and was wounded in battle; he spent much of his life speaking out against war, and these pacifist feelings are easy to see in his poems. This one, "Absolution," was published in 1917, the same year that Sassoon was hospitalized for what we know today as post-traumatic stress disorder. "Absolution" is a short poem that contains three stanzas of four lines each. The word "absolution" means "forgiveness," and... Sure! Siegfried Sassoon fought in World War I and was wounded in battle; he spent much of his life speaking out against war, and these pacifist feelings are easy to see in his poems. This one, "Absolution," was published in 1917, the same year that Sassoon was hospitalized for what we know today as post-traumatic stress disorder. "Absolution" is a short poem that contains three stanzas of four lines each. The word "absolution" means "forgiveness," and the v...
Post a Comment
Read more

How and why does James Gatz become Jay Gatsby? Describe the young Gatsby/Gatz.

James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune,... James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune, whereas they arose from well-to-do families. Gatz became Gatsby through determination and discipline. At the end of the novel, the narr...
Post a Comment
Read more

In chapter one of The Great Gatsby, what advice does Nick's father give him? How does this make him a good person to tell this story?

Nick says that his father advised him that, before "criticizing anyone," he "remember that all the people in this world haven't had the same advantages" as Nick.  As a result, Nick claims that he is "inclined to reserve all judgments," presenting himself to the reader as a fair and dispassionate arbiter of character, and thus, a reliable narrator.   The problem is that Nick immediately reveals himself as anything but reliable, as he then launches... Nick says that his father advised him that, before "criticizing anyone," he "remember that all the people in this world haven't had the same advantages" as Nick.  As a result, Nick claims that he is "inclined to reserve all judgments," presenting himself to the reader as a fair and dispassionate arbiter of character, and thus, a reliable narrator.   The problem is that Nick immediately reveals himself as anything but reliable, as he then launches into a discussion of how pe...
Post a Comment
Read more