Savage The Bones Analysis
Lisa Harlow
Guimaraes
English 101
January 17, 2015
Greek Goddesses
Jesmyn Wards novel, Savage the Bones, takes place in Bios Savage, in rural Mississippi. The novel consists of twelve days each day being a chapter, all leading up to the massive destruction of hurricane Katrina. The main characters include Junior, age seven; Esch, fifteen; Skeetah, sixteen; and Randall, seventeen. Their Mama died seven years ago when Junior was born. Daddy is around but has a problem with alcohol. They have a pit bull named China, who gives birth to five puppies and is used for prize fighting. The novel is narrated by the character Esch. Having lost her mother and being the only girl in the family beside China, Esch is desperately trying to find herself. Esch …show more content…
Esch looks to the women in Greek mythology for power and strength in her femininity and sexuality. These are things she is missing in her life. Esch has been sexually active since the age of 12, she is always looking for love in sex. “The pulpy ripe heart. The sticky heart the boys saw through my boyish frame, my dark skin, my plane face. The girly heart that, before Manny, I let boys have because they wanted it, and not because I wanted to give it. I 'd let boys have it because for a moment, I was Psyche or Eurydice or Daphne. I was beloved” (Ward 17). Although when it comes to Manny, Esch thinks she knows what she wants.” But with Manny, it was different; he was so beautiful, and still he chose me, again and again. He wanted my girl heart; I gave him both of them” (Ward 17). Ward has created a character so conflicted within herself. Esch is always looking to the goddesses for help in defining the way she is feeling. Aphrodite, goddess of romance and passion, known for her numerous affairs of the heart. Also known as the roman goddess Venus, Aphrodite had one gift and that was to make love. The Greek goddess Artemis was independent, choosing the wild beauty of the forest and mountains over marriage and parenthood. I see a little bit of Esch in both of these
Guimaraes
English 101
January 17, 2015
Greek Goddesses
Jesmyn Wards novel, Savage the Bones, takes place in Bios Savage, in rural Mississippi. The novel consists of twelve days each day being a chapter, all leading up to the massive destruction of hurricane Katrina. The main characters include Junior, age seven; Esch, fifteen; Skeetah, sixteen; and Randall, seventeen. Their Mama died seven years ago when Junior was born. Daddy is around but has a problem with alcohol. They have a pit bull named China, who gives birth to five puppies and is used for prize fighting. The novel is narrated by the character Esch. Having lost her mother and being the only girl in the family beside China, Esch is desperately trying to find herself. Esch …show more content…
Esch looks to the women in Greek mythology for power and strength in her femininity and sexuality. These are things she is missing in her life. Esch has been sexually active since the age of 12, she is always looking for love in sex. “The pulpy ripe heart. The sticky heart the boys saw through my boyish frame, my dark skin, my plane face. The girly heart that, before Manny, I let boys have because they wanted it, and not because I wanted to give it. I 'd let boys have it because for a moment, I was Psyche or Eurydice or Daphne. I was beloved” (Ward 17). Although when it comes to Manny, Esch thinks she knows what she wants.” But with Manny, it was different; he was so beautiful, and still he chose me, again and again. He wanted my girl heart; I gave him both of them” (Ward 17). Ward has created a character so conflicted within herself. Esch is always looking to the goddesses for help in defining the way she is feeling. Aphrodite, goddess of romance and passion, known for her numerous affairs of the heart. Also known as the roman goddess Venus, Aphrodite had one gift and that was to make love. The Greek goddess Artemis was independent, choosing the wild beauty of the forest and mountains over marriage and parenthood. I see a little bit of Esch in both of these