Handful By Sue Monk Kidd: Chapter Analysis
“There was a time in Africa when people could fly like blackbirds.” Sue Monk Kidd opens the book with this concept while Charlotte is talking to her daughter, Handful. Right away she gives off the impression of Charlotte having a strong mindset and imagination that will be passed onto Handful. This interpretation is very important throughout the book as we read about Handful and Sarah growing up. The novel is divided into 6 sections while the chapters alternate from Sarah to Handful’s point of views. Within the chapters we learn about other characters and their stories from the girl’s perspectives. Originally, the book starts when they are young and don’t know about the world or their social status. Handful, a slave on the Grimke’s plantation
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From the beginning to the end, she uses vocabulary that gives off more of an old timey southern feel. For example, going to use the “privy” instead of the bathroom or using “grandeur” to describe how formal the balls and get togethers they had were. At times it was very difficult to understand what she was trying to get across with the vocabulary she used. The context clues around it helped me to figure out what she was saying. One thing I noticed about the author’s style is she likes to throw in phrases and repeat them. By doing this she makes readers mentally note in their head that it has a bigger meaning. Sarah shares during her first encounter with slave discipline how her mind kept telling her “Go Sarah,” and that was the start of her anti-slavery feelings in the book. From this point, she starts to have difficulty expressing her beliefs and the phrase “Go Sarah” pops into her mind. The author also uses phrases to set in personality traits for the characters. As Handful grows up on the plantation she begins to realize the limitations placed on her life. In one of her conversations with Sarah she says, “My body might be a slave but not my mind. For you it’s the other way around.” Handful believed there was a greater purpose in the world for her, but the only thing stopping her was the color of her skin. Meanwhile, the only thing
From the beginning to the end, she uses vocabulary that gives off more of an old timey southern feel. For example, going to use the “privy” instead of the bathroom or using “grandeur” to describe how formal the balls and get togethers they had were. At times it was very difficult to understand what she was trying to get across with the vocabulary she used. The context clues around it helped me to figure out what she was saying. One thing I noticed about the author’s style is she likes to throw in phrases and repeat them. By doing this she makes readers mentally note in their head that it has a bigger meaning. Sarah shares during her first encounter with slave discipline how her mind kept telling her “Go Sarah,” and that was the start of her anti-slavery feelings in the book. From this point, she starts to have difficulty expressing her beliefs and the phrase “Go Sarah” pops into her mind. The author also uses phrases to set in personality traits for the characters. As Handful grows up on the plantation she begins to realize the limitations placed on her life. In one of her conversations with Sarah she says, “My body might be a slave but not my mind. For you it’s the other way around.” Handful believed there was a greater purpose in the world for her, but the only thing stopping her was the color of her skin. Meanwhile, the only thing