August Book Club Discussion Question 9-Big Stone Gap

[Michelle]

A common theme in literature is that the heroine (e.g., Snow White, Cinderella, Jane Eyre, Nancy Drew) must lose a parent or parents before she is free to discover who she really is. Is this merely a literary convention or does it have roots in real life? Does it apply to male characters as well? How much significance does Mrs. Mac’s death have to Jack Mac’s personal development?

[paelthom]

I think in the storybook world, the child always takes care of the ailing parent even if it means not living their own dreams. Jack-Mac felt responsible for making sure his mom was taken care of. Once she was gone, there was no one to take care of and no one to take care of him. I think it nudged him into finding his own dreams and someone to care for and that would care for him.