Anne Moody: Summary And Analysis

While Anne Moody’s personal stance by the end of her memoir may be unclear, it may be argued that she actually shows signs of optimism. Towards the end of the memoir, she shows her sister Adline her college diploma. While she and her sister have had a tumultuous relationship with one another, Adline is genuinely proud of her sister and may even be inspired to get her own diploma one day. Though small, Adline does have a change in attitude. Previously, she chastised her sister for going to college and not being able to afford it. Adline was content to work for a living without receiving an education, but after seeing all that her sister accomplished, she is inspired. The last chapter of the memoir features Anne in a melancholic state. She writes,
“I felt worse about everything than I ever had before” (422). In addition, the mantra of “we aren’t big enough to do this by ourselves” (422) penetrates her ears. With this being said, it may seem as though she has more of a pessimistic view on the outcomes of the movement. However, Anne finds herself asking Bob where a packed greyhound bus is headed. When he tells her Washington, and that he needs her to testify, she squeezes onto the bus of her own free will. Though unhappy, starving and exhausted, Anne still finds herself on a road headed in a positive direction. She is not running away from the movement, but rather going towards where change can occur. In her final moment, she writes, “I wonder I really wonder” while listening to everyone around her singing We Shall Overcome. Even though she is not certain, she is wondering. She is not closing herself off to possibilities. She is thinking and she is wondering. As long as she is breathing and wondering, there is hope. Hope is not dead for her yet, which means that she is not a pessimist. If she thought there was no hope in the movement she would not have ended the novel with her ride up towards Washington, D.C. to testify for change.