Bastard Out Of Carolina Essay -- English Literature

Bastard Out Of Carolina â€Å"Pay Attention to Detail† ========================= One must consider a little history on Dorothy Allison in order to see how the directions that she takes the novel add up. When she was 24, Allison lived in a lesbian-feminist collective. The women there gave her the confidence she needed and the ability to see the value in her own writing (Amazon.com). During this time, she also found someone who seemed normal, yet she had experienced the same â€Å"incest† (Megan 74). This discovery removed some of her separation that she believed her abuse created between her and the world (Amazon 74). Allison actually was born a â€Å"bastard† (Amazon 78), and her life was further complicated through dealing with her â€Å"brutal† step-father (Amazon 76). When she began writing, her goal as a writer, especially in Bastard Out of Carolina centers on having â€Å"compassion† and no â€Å"rage† (Megan 75). Allison hoped to further her goal in this book by making Bone appear to be able to survive through making others take ownership in the wrongs that have been dealt to her (Megan 73). Through Bone, Allison could comprehend how her childhood could have been better, so she would not raise her child in the same manner (Megan 75). In writing Bastard, she also learned how to turn a poem into a novel, a valuable skill for one who usually begins writing poetry (Megan 72). Which creates themes present in the novel and in order to truly get an appreciation of Bastard Out of Carolina, by Dorothy Allison, one must take a close look at the main concepts: Abuse, Fire, Legitimacy, Social Class, Hands, and Identity; to see how they all play a role in the overall tone and personification of the book. One of the main concepts in Ba... ...p to the man who tries to destroy her. In conclusion, we saw how in writing Bastard, she also learned how to turn a poem into a novel, which created themes present in the novel and in order to have truly gotten an appreciation of Bastard Out of Carolina, by Dorothy Allison, one must have taken a close look at the main concepts: Abuse, Fire, Legitimacy, Social Class, Hands, and Identity; to see how they all played a role in the overall tone and personification of the book. Works Cited: "Amazon.com Talks to Dorothy Allison." http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/show-interview/a-d-llisonorothy/ 1261-2240565-375045 (22 March 1998). "An Evening to Remember:Dorothy Allison." http://www.progway.org/dorothy.html (22 March 1998). Megan, Carolyn E. "Moving Toward Truth: An Interview with Dorothy Allison." The Kenyon Review Journals 16.4 (Fall 1994):71-83.