Day Of Honey Analysis

The focus of this essay is to explore the different conflicts and resolutions that are undergone between racially, religiously, and culturally diverse mothers and daughters-in-law. These different conflicts and resolutions are analyzed in two literary works: Day of Honey: A Memoir of Food, Love, and War by Annia Ciezadlo, which takes place in post 9/11 America and the Middle East, as well as Love Medicine by Louise Erdrich, set in rural North Dakota from 1934 to 1984. A critical analysis reveals that the daughters-in-law of these two literary works are able to overcome their differences with their mothers-in-law through selfless acts, and forge new meaning and relationships that fulfill their lives. Annia’s relationship with her mother-in-law, Umm Hassane, begins with mutual respect and love, but transforms into a game of proofs in which the resolution takes time and hard work to achieve. In Erdrich’s novel, the relationship of Rushes Bear and her daughter-in-law, Marie, is a years-long bitter struggle in which surrender brings about a similar kind of respect and love. In this essay, through an analysis of the different conflicts and methods of reconciliation, I will argue that between the racially, religiously, and culturally diverse in-laws of these two books, respect is something that comes hard earned. These daughters-in-law are able to prove that they are worthy of their mothers-in-law’s respect through demonstrations of sacrifice.