'Impertinent voices: a Woman's struggle'

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‘Impertinent voices: a Woman’s struggle’

Journeys: consider the journeys embarked upon by any of the characters in each novel; these should include both real and metaphorical journeys. Trace the importance of them within the thematic considerations of the novels.

Jeanette’s journeys

-        Jeanette’s recognition and acceptance of herself is her most profound change. At the beginning of the book, she completely mimicked her mother's interpretation of the world. As Jeanette grows to understand the world herself, she forms her own opinions.

-        Initially these differing opinions pertain to small issues. As she comes to terms with her same sex love however, Jeanette is forced to question the church's entire explanation of God's rules. Jeanette loves God and she loves women and she sees no contradiction in this fact.

-        The refusal of the church to see her point of view ultimately leads her to leave the church. On the surface, it seems that Jeanette has grown less religious but this assumption is not necessarily correct. Jeanette instead has learned to differentiate between her own sincere beliefs and, what she sees as, the misguided beliefs of others in the church. Jeanette feels the need to remain true to her self and in this way she manages to follow her ideal of God.

-        Jeanette also changes during the novel in that she grows much more imaginative. The unrelated narratives complement what is happening in Jeanette's life, or her emotions about a particular issue. For example, when Jeanette disagrees with the idea of perfection, she thinks up a lengthy story critiquing the idea of perfection itself. Likewise, when Jeanette is forced to leave her home, she describes her circumstances by telling the tale of Winnet Stonejar. The events in Winnet's life mirror those in Jeanette's but by telling them through a made- up fictional character Jeanette is able to depersonalize her circumstances. As she grows old, Jeanette's imagination becomes the place that she can run to when times get tough.

-        By the end of the novel, she is on her way to become a writer and constantly summarises the events in her life by speaking about them through the guise of made-up characters. Jeanette's ability to free her imagination relates to her increased sense of self. As she trusts her mind and her skills, she gives herself permission to retell her own story with the interpretation that she sees fit.

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-        Jeanette's willingness to interpret the world herself differs greatly from when she was a child and accepted the rhetoric of the church and her mother blindly. As a child Jeanette was destined to become a missionary, who is someone that repeats stories that have been told to them. Instead, Jeanette has become a prophet, who is someone that makes up new stories herself. Only through her realisation of her self and growth of her imagination has this transformation been possible.

-        ‘Pillars hold things up, and salt keeps things clean, but it's a poor exchange for losing your self. People do ...

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