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How to Tell Renata

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How to Tell Renata
ENGLISH 1D5: INDEPENDENT NOVEL ANALYSIS
Example/ Practice: How To Tell Renata (119- 125)

Relationship Development:

“Renata is my mother-though I’ve never called her anything but Renata for as long as I can remember- and this is the way she’s always dealt with things. By ignoring them. Maybe it’s because she’s been on her own, except for me, pretty much all of her life and there was never anyone else for her to talk to…Renata’s OK as far as small things go, but keeps quiet on anything large and frightening. This is how I see it-she must think if the scary stuff is pushed to some far, webby corner of her cranium, shrouded and silent, then perhaps it doesn’t really exist…”

Jacinda and Renata carry on a peculiar relationship between them. They had a stronger relationship between the two dramatic changes in her life. One was Jacinda’s father and Renata’s husband leaving and the second was Renata’s boyfriend Jerry. Now their relationship towards each other is very shaky. “Renata is my mother-though I’ve never called her anything but Renata for as long as I can remember.” This quote shows the formality between Renata and Jacinda and how they were never really close. Renata is afraid of reality and she is not afraid to let Jacinda know that. She thinks that if she doesn’t deal with the problems and ignore them they will just go away. “She must think if the scary stuff is pushed to some far, webby corner of her cranium, shrouded and silent, then perhaps it doesn’t really exist…” From this quote I have come to the conclusion that Renata is hesitant on confronting her fears and that she takes Jacinda’s relationship with her for granted.

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