When it comes to negativity, Lucy wins hands down. When it comes to close-mindedness, however, it may be near a tie. Although I respect how Omishto finds beauty and joy in nature, she still does not seem open to other people's values and beliefs. Just as Lucy seemed to only listen to Mariah in order to be nice, Omishto only goes to church on Sunday because she feels sorry for her mother. Chapter 5 opens with Omishto saying that she went to church with her mother "because I am obedient, I go with her. For her sake, not mine, because she has been crying, and I feel bad for her" (99). No one likes to be pitied, and this insincerity would probably end up hurting her mother more in the end than if Omishto had been honest and not gone.
Omishto goes on to criticize the women of the church and how they "wear too much blush and mascara and too-bright a dress" (100). All the while, however, she is frustrated with how women "like her mother" do not understand Ama's way of behavior, dress, and lifestyle. Just the same, maybe Omishto does not understand why they dress, talk, and act the way that they do or think, feel, and believe the things that they do.
In the same way, Lucy felt that everything outside of her ordinary way of life or culture was weird. She felt as though she could judge a woman like Dinah and know everything about her, but hated when people assumed she was from "the islands." This is because they judged by her appearance and knew nothing of her life and experiences. Just the same, Omishto judges the appearances of the women at the church without knowing or understanding their chosen ways of life.
If she wants respect for Ama's and her ideals, I'd suggest keeping an open-minded to others' beliefs and values.
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3 comments:
Wow interesting connection between Lucy and Omishto. They do appear to be going through similar things. Perhaps that is just something that is part of being a teenager? Figuring out where you belong in the scheme of things.
I was thinking the same thing reading this book. I was reminded of Lucy several times while reading Power. Especially when she talks about her mother. That really struck me as similar. It should be interesting to explore another mother daughter relationship that is far from perfect....
I also found similiarities between the two books. They were both caught between their own ideals as well as the ideals of their mothers. Clearly their mothers played important roles in their lives, yet they could not find ways to accept & respect them. I agree with what you all said! Maybe they were both caught in an awkward phase... trying to find their own true identity.
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