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

What is the meaning of "juggling fiends" in Macbeth?

Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a... Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a sense of guilt, and that man tells him: Despair thy charm. And let the angel whom thou still hast serve...
Post a Comment
Read more

In Martel's Life of Pi, how does writing a diary help Pi Patel build on his leadership skills?

At the end of chapter 73, Pi first divulges the fact that he had started a diary after about a week alone at sea. Pi claims that he wrote about "practical stuff" (208) such as what he caught for food, foreseeable problems and solutions, Richard Parker, and reflections about specific events that occurred. In a sense, Pi is the captain of his ship; therefore, he must take responsibility for himself and his crew. He can... At the end of chapter 73, Pi first divulges the fact that he had started a diary after about a week alone at sea. Pi claims that he wrote about "practical stuff" (208) such as what he caught for food, foreseeable problems and solutions, Richard Parker, and reflections about specific events that occurred. In a sense, Pi is the captain of his ship; therefore, he must take responsibility for himself and his crew. He can do this by writing down events, problems and solutions, and reflections to look back on when confronted with repeated problems. It can ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Why did Tybalt attack and kill Mercutio instead of Romeo, who he had originally been targeting?

Though Tybalt's quarrel is with Romeo, he begins the momentous duel in Act 3 by fighting with and killing Mercutio instead. Tybalt ultimately attacks Mercutio because the garrulous and hot-headed character insults Tybalt and goads him into a duel to protect Romeo's honor. From the beginning of the encounter in Act 3, Scene 1, it's clear that Mercutio is itching for a fight. For instance, when Tybalt signals that he wants to talk to Mercutio... Though Tybalt's quarrel is with Romeo, he begins the momentous duel in Act 3 by fighting with and killing Mercutio instead. Tybalt ultimately attacks Mercutio because the garrulous and hot-headed character insults Tybalt and goads him into a duel to protect Romeo's honor. From the beginning of the encounter in Act 3, Scene 1, it's clear that Mercutio is itching for a fight. For instance, when Tybalt signals that he wants to talk to Mercutio and Benvolio, Mercutio responds "And but one word with one of us?/ Couple it w...
Post a Comment
Read more