Skip to main content

In Tuck Everlasting, how is Winnie treated differently when she returns home from the way she was treated before she left?

Winnie's family micromanages Winnie.  They don't necessarily control everything that she does, but her parents and grandmother are constantly around telling Winnie what she should and should not do.  Colleagues of mine call those kinds of parents "helicopter parents," because they are always hovering over their children.  The constant oversight from Winnie's family is the number one reason why she wants to run away.  


"Come in now, Winnie. Right away. You'll get heat stroke out there on a day like this. And your lunch is ready."


"See?" said Winnie to the toad. "That's just what I mean. It's like that every minute. If I had a sister or a brother, there'd be someone else for them to watch. But, as it is, there's only me. I'm tired of being looked at all the time. . . I'll never be able to do anything important if I stay in here like this. I expect I'd better run away." 



After Winnie returns home from being with the Tucks, Winnie's family is relieved and excited by her return.  In fact, their response is completely normal.  Lots of hugs and excitement.  After all they did think that she had been kidnapped.  



They had seized her at once, flinging the gate open and swooping down on her, her mother weeping, her father speechless, hugging her to him, her grandmother babbling with excitement.



However, it doesn't take the family long to realize that Winnie is somehow different.   



. . . they sensed that she was different now from what she had been before. As if some part of her had slipped away.



Consequently, Winnie's family treats her differently.  They don't try to order her about as much.  In fact, it seems almost like her family is uncomfortable around Winnie.  They don't converse with her the same way as before and even sort of avoid confronting her in any way.  



But they peered at her anxiously over their shoulders as they tiptoed out of her bedroom. . . 



This odd treatment continues into the next day.  In the opening chapters, Winnie was ordered inside because it was too hot.  However, the day after she returns is even hotter, but nobody wants to order Winnie inside anymore.  They leave the decision up to Winnie. 



"I never saw such heat in all my life," said Winnie's grandmother, dabbing uselessly at her neck with a handkerchief. "Don't stay out here much longer."


"I won't," said Winnie, and was left alone once more.


Comments

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...

Discuss movements that were inspired by the Civil Rights Movement and list one success for each group.

African-Americans contributed in a very big way during World War II. These contributions were demonstrated at home and on the battlefield. After the war, African-Americans properly felt it was time for them to achieve equality with white Americans. During the 1950's, the modern Civil Rights Movement was born and it had a number of successes (integration of the military and Brown vs. Board of Education as examples.) This success inspired other activists to demand change... African-Americans contributed in a very big way during World War II. These contributions were demonstrated at home and on the battlefield. After the war, African-Americans properly felt it was time for them to achieve equality with white Americans. During the 1950's, the modern Civil Rights Movement was born and it had a number of successes (integration of the military and Brown vs. Board of Education as examples.) This success inspired other activists to demand change for their agendas. Two examples of moveme...

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 ...