Bastard Out of Carolina Group

Question:

jocypooh
jocypooh
Student
High School - 12th Grade

in the book bastard out of carolina when bone is born,anney is fifteen, dirt poor,and married. with so many obstacles, why os she so focused on the bi

why is she so focused on the birth certificate, which no one will but herwill see? how does she pass this preoccupation on to bone

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Posted by jocypooh on Sunday June 10, 2007 at 3:02 PM and tagged with bastard out of carolina.

Answers:


  1. bmadnick Teacher
    High School - 11th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    It is considered a disgrace not to know who your father is and having "illegitimate" stamped on your birth certificate let the whole world know the circumstances of your birth. Anney knows that this word indicates shame and that Bone will be branded with it all her life if Anney doesn't get it removed.
    As long as the birth certificate has that demeaning word on it, Bone will never be able to escape her past and start over. An unbranded birth certificate symbolizes Bone's rebirth.

    It's also ironic that Anney is so intent on having Bone's birth certificate changed when she allows Glen to abuse her most of her life. At the end, Anney deserts Bone and then gives her the "clean" birth certificate. In her mind, Anney is giving Bone a gift of taking away the stigma of her birth. Anney has allowed Glen to take away Bone's innocence and childhood, and Bone will be branded with that abuse for the rest of her life.

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    Posted by bmadnick on Sunday June 10, 2007 at 4:25 PM