Three Sisters, Women of Canada, Dulce Et Decorum, The Bobbseys At Home & Boots (Chapter 16-20)

In these series of chapters, some very important advances were made in the characterization of James in the war. As the plot of the story becomes stranger and stranger, the reader begins to question the motives of the author. MacDonald adds several things into the story, that are seemingly unnecessary filler. However, the experience of the last few chapters tells me that everything added into this book is there for a specific purpose. Kathleen and her younger sisters begin to bond. Maternia receives letters from James that are almost useless, as he never adds any details into his messages. Maternia feels somewhat guilty, for she wishes death on James. Meanwhile, James in the trenches is changing as a character. He is eventually discharged, for what they say is a severed toe, but in actuality, he is mentally unfit to continue in the war.

A part of these chapters that really struck a chord with me, and I suspect many other readers, is when the author reveals that Mrs. Luvovitz's children are going to fight in the war. However, there is a twist to this development: "Her boys will be fighting their own flesh and blood. The Luvovitzes are real Canadians, and the Feingolds are real Germans" (MacDonald 102). Here we see that there is an obvious struggle with identity, not only for the children of the Luvovitzes, but for Canada as a whole. We are reminded of the changing of times in Canada in this time period. The Second World War mimics the conflicts that are occurring in the home of the Pipers.

Maternia contemplates suicide in this chapter. She wishes to jump to her death off the cliffs that she has visited for so long, and be dead in the ocean. For Maternia, the water here symbolizes a fresh start, almost as if it is a rebirth in death. MacDonald uses personification to highlight this fact: "It's where she belongs, she craves the caress of the violent shore, to come alive like that once more in a clash of stone and then to die" (MacDonald 105). Maternia feels dead already, and expresses that she would find a relief in death, as the fall would make her feel alive once more. The reader is on Maternia's side; she is one of the many characters that we sympathize with in this novel.

We also sympathize with the tragic Mrs. Luvovitz, who is proof that tragic things can happen to otherwise good people. Mrs. Luvovitz is only human, however, and humans have good and bad points. She wishes for James to be killed in the war, much like Maternia secretly does: "Benny says that's prejudice. It isn't. It's superstition" (MacDonald 105). Judgement and prejudice, as well as perception are huge themes in this novel. While everyone judges each other in the novel, the reader is able to see the positive and negative in everyone. There are no "black and white" characters; everyone is a spectrum, so judgement should not be used.

The Secrets of Fatima are mentioned in this section. However, this was a title in the pervious sections of the book. Could it be that MacDonald is using the titles of the chapters as foreshadowing to what could happen? It seems a little obvious, but I'll be looking for that pattern in the remainder of the novel.

James's characters becomes more complex and troublesome. He is described as having "'Total disregard for his own safety'" (MacDonald 109) by his fellow soldiers. It becomes evident that James doesn't want to live anymore, though it is not clear why. He has generally been a pessimistic and dangerous charcater. However, his grand plans for Kathleen and his newfound want to die are conflicting. I think a combination of war, his failing reltionship with Maternia and the fact that he has lost/is losing Kathleen to distance and her rapidly increasing age has made him feel like he has nothing left in his life. I'm not sure if the average reader feels sorry for James, but I do. His character reminds me of the mention of the fatal flaw in our class discussions. MacDonald paints him as a tragic character, with several weaknesses, such as Kathleen and his exremely high expectations, that will eventually lead to his demise.

James has a highly competitive nature. He likes to win, and he likes to be correct. In the chapter entitled Boots, James decides that in order to win the war, he must make the best boots: "We will win because we have more and better boots. Boots determine history. Warm dry feet will allow us to go on being killed longer than the enemy. When the enemy's boots wear out, they will no longer be able to run in waves into our machine-gun fire, and they will surrender" (MacDonald 112). I am struggling to understand why MacDonald included James's bizarre logic into the novel. I think this is here to show his descent into possible insanity. While his point is somewhat logical, he obsesses over boots. James has become more obsessive and more obsessed by unfeasible illogical ideas. I predict that the boots are just symbolically representing Kathleen. I feel like the Piper women will be in greater danger upon the homecoming of the man of the house.

In describing James, MacDonald used an interesting allusion: "James's superiors do not refer to him as 'Rudolph'; they call him 'Lady Macbeth'" (MacDonald 114). James is being compared to Lady Macbeth, a greedy, vicious character that committed horrible crimes and died because of their own guilt. When Lady Macbeth died, natural order was restored. Could a similar fate be in store for James?

Before learning of James's homecoming, Mercedes, Frances and Kathleen read The Red Shoes, a story by Hans Christian Anderson that tells of a girl that was to vain and rude to her adoptive mother, that she was forced to dance in her red shoes, until she cut her feet off. She was only saved by praying to God. It is an ironic allusion, considering that Kathleen fits the description of the girl in the story perfectly. MacDonald uses a lot of allusions for the purpose of foreshadowing, and I wouldn't be surprised if this was included.

Interesting Vocabulary
Bodechean: Has different meanings for different regions. Generally thought of as a demonic/mythical creature. Kathleen describes Pete as such. It is still unclear why Pete is haunting Kathleen. Is he real, or is he imaginary?
Unabsolved: To un-free, or be contained. Maternia is this way when the priest does not understand her perceived level of sin.
Untrammelled: Not censored or chained in speech or thought. Kathleen believes that the free untrammelled girl must be brought to the throne of fashion for sacrifice.
Dulce et Decorum: Translates roughly into "For one's own country". Title of the chapter in which James describes his wartime life.
Parapet: A wall.