Bastard Out of Carolina
Dorothy Allison’s debut novel, "Bastard Out of Carolina," masterfully interweaves themes of suffering, resilience, and familial loyalty. Through the eyes of the young protagonist, Ruth Anne Boatwright—endearingly known as Bone—the narrative navigates her turbulent life experiences and her journey to self-acceptance amidst harrowing adversity. With a backdrop of familial dysfunction and societal judgment, Bone's evolution is both a poignant reflection on survival and a tribute to the unwavering strength of the Boatwright clan.
The Boatwright Legacy
Central to the novel is the characterization of the Boatwright family—a boisterous, defiant group who, despite their notoriety for vulgarity and violence, embody an indomitable spirit and a profound sense of loyalty. Bone's mother, Anney, exemplifies this complex heritage. Her resolve is evident from the novel’s onset as she fiercely challenges societal conventions, exemplified by her clash with a courthouse clerk over the legitimacy of Bone's birth certificate. Anney's stoic determination in the face of hardship—working multiple low-paying jobs to support her daughters following her first husband's death—exemplifies the fierce survival instincts that define the Boatwright women.
Anney's Paradox
Despite her formidable strength, Anney harbors a deep-seated vulnerability—a dependence on male validation. This dependency turns perilous with her marriage to Glen Waddell, a man whose need for control and validation spirals into a cycle of abuse and violence. Glen, the black sheep of his successful family, struggles with profound insecurities exacerbated by his father's contempt, fueling his violent outbursts at home.
The Trauma of Abuse
Bone becomes the primary victim of Glen's unchecked rage and jealousy, his abuse escalating from verbal to physical and ultimately, sexual. Bone’s illegitimacy and strong bond with Anney make her a target for Glen's resentment. While Bone suffers in silence, fearful of the consequences of revealing her ordeal, her resilience shines through as she navigates the complexities of love, loyalty, and survival.
A Family's Reckoning
As Bone nears her thirteenth birthday, her uncles uncover the truth of her abuse, reacting with predictable violence by severely beating Glen. Yet, even after this intervention, Bone’s torment continues. Glen’s obsession with Bone and his violent tendencies culminate in a brutal attack and rape, leaving Anney torn between her daughter and her toxic attachment to Glen. In the aftermath, Anney’s choice to follow Glen into exile severs her bond with Bone, leaving Bone to find solace and healing within the embrace of her Aunt Raylene.
Observations of a Young Survivor
Allison’s narrative is enriched by Bone's introspective voice, which portrays her as both participant and observer in her own story. This duality allows her to detach emotionally from her trauma, chronicling her experiences with a stark, unembellished clarity that intensifies the novel's emotional impact. Bone’s love of literature provides a refuge, enabling her to view herself as a character in a broader narrative, which in turn empowers her survival.
Complex Narratives of Humor and Pain
While "Bastard Out of Carolina" is steeped in the gravity of its themes, it also captures moments of levity and humor, often through the colorful depictions of the Boatwright family. Granny Boatwright's vivacious presence, for instance, provides comedic relief as she juggles conversations and disciplines her grandchildren with a mix of affection and irreverence. Allison’s ability to balance humor with the novel’s darker elements showcases her skillful narrative control and deep empathy.
Challenging Societal Norms
The novel does not shy away from critiquing the societal structures that perpetuate cycles of abuse and oppression. The dynamic between Anney and Glen is emblematic of a broader cultural acceptance of male dominance and female subservience, a theme that resonates deeply in the depiction of the Boatwright men’s behaviors and attitudes. The...
(This entire section contains 932 words.)
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women's acceptance of their roles as caretakers and nurturers, often at the expense of their own well-being, underscores the entrenched gender norms that Allison challenges through Bone’s narrative.
The Role of Women in Boatwright Culture
In the Boatwright family, women work tirelessly and age swiftly under the weight of their obligations, a fate that Anney seems resigned to despite its cost. Bone’s observations of her mother and other female relatives reveal a culture where women’s value is intricately tied to their relationships with men. Anney’s eventual abandonment of Bone for Glen highlights the internalized belief that women are incomplete without male partnership, a notion that Allison critiques through her nuanced portrayal of Anney’s internal struggle.
Raylene: A Different Path
Raylene Boatwright, Bone’s aunt, represents an alternative to the traditional gender roles that ensnare the other women in Bone's life. Her independence and past romantic involvement with another woman mark her as a figure of nonconformity. Raylene’s understanding and unconditional love provide Bone with a sense of safety and acceptance absent in her mother’s relationship with Glen. Through Raylene, Allison suggests the possibility of a different, more liberated life for women—a vision that contrasts sharply with the entrenched patriarchal values of the Boatwright family.
A Lasting Impact
"Bastard Out of Carolina" is a testament to Allison’s ability to depict the intricacies of familial love and the resilience of the human spirit amidst overwhelming adversity. The novel resonates deeply as a narrative of personal and collective trauma, offering a raw yet compassionate exploration of the ways in which individuals navigate the legacies of pain and love. Allison’s unflinching portrayal of Bone’s journey and the complexities of the Boatwright family dynamics ensures the novel’s enduring place in the canon of American literature, offering insights into the human condition that are both timeless and deeply moving.
Historical Context
The 1950s marked an era of pronounced economic growth in America, with many citizens enjoying the rewards of a burgeoning middle class. However, beneath the surface of this apparent affluence, significant social challenges persisted, particularly for minorities and the impoverished. As the decade unfolded, societal norms, the role of women, and burgeoning civil rights movements shaped a complex tapestry of American life.
A Prosperous Nation?
During the 1950s, America seemed to be a land of prosperity. Unemployment and inflation rates were impressively low, hanging below 5 percent for much of the decade. A significant percentage of the population, over 60 percent, enjoyed middle-class incomes ranging from $3,000 to $10,000 annually. This economic boom led to a dramatic increase in homeownership, with an additional 21 million Americans becoming homeowners during this time. The government played its part, expanding social security and unemployment benefits, and raising the minimum wage. Educational spending saw an unprecedented boost under President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Nevertheless, this picture of prosperity was not universal. Nearly 40 million Americans lived near or below the poverty threshold of $3,000 for a family of four. As the wealth of the middle class burgeoned, many poorer citizens, especially African Americans and minorities, found themselves with a shrinking share of the national wealth. Rural poverty was particularly dire, marked by insufficient access to healthcare and education.
The South
The South experienced both demographic and social shifts during the 1950s. Many rural Southerners, seeking better opportunities, migrated to urban areas, while African Americans continued the Great Migration northward, seeking industrial jobs. This movement crescendoed in the mid-1950s, with northern cities witnessing an influx of approximately 2,000 African Americans each week.
Meanwhile, a religious fervor gripped the South, characterized by outdoor evangelical revivals. Prominent in this revival was Billy Graham, who, through his Evangelistic Association, spread religious messages via crusades, radio, and television, touching the lives of many Southerners.
Women in the 1950s
For women, the 1950s presented a complex landscape. While traditional roles emphasized homemaking, a significant portion of women worked outside the home, often part-time and in low-level jobs. These working conditions typically offered scant opportunities for career advancement. Although historically mothers from poorer families worked for wages, an increasing number of middle-class mothers joined the workforce during this decade.
Discrimination and exploitation were prevalent in both domestic and professional settings. Additionally, fewer women pursued higher education, as many women’s colleges either closed or transitioned to coeducational models.
The Fledgling Civil Rights Movement
The 1950s also witnessed the stirrings of the civil rights movement. A notable protest occurred in 1955 when African Americans in Montgomery, Alabama, initiated a bus boycott to end segregation. Maintaining the boycott for nearly a year, these efforts culminated in the Supreme Court’s declaration that Alabama's segregation laws were unconstitutional. This pivotal event not only desegregated the bus system but also propelled Martin Luther King, Jr., into the national spotlight as a prominent civil rights leader.
Two years earlier, in a landmark decision, the Supreme Court ruled in Brown v. The Board of Education of Topeka that racial segregation in schools was unconstitutional. This decision prompted Southern states to begin the contentious process of desegregating their educational institutions.
A Society of Conformity
Conformity emerged as a defining theme of the 1950s. Suburban neighborhoods epitomized this trend with their uniform houses and floor plans. However, this emphasis on conformity spurred a counterculture, particularly among teenagers who rejected societal norms through new music genres like rock 'n' roll and literature critical of adult hypocrisy.
Adults, too, pushed back against societal norms. In his book An Affluent Society, John Kenneth Galbraith critiqued America's materialism and its neglect of significant social issues. Meanwhile, the Beat Generation, a group of writers and poets, challenged middle-class conventions, seeking authenticity and self-discovery. Jack Kerouac's On the Road, a seminal work of this movement, celebrated the quest for individual identity, while authors like Ralph Ellison spotlighted the struggles of impoverished and marginalized Americans.
Style and Technique
The intricacies of literary style and technique form the backbone of any compelling narrative. In the novel, "Bastard Out of Carolina," various stylistic elements such as symbolism, point of view, setting, and language come together to create a powerful exploration of themes like identity, poverty, and familial bonds. Through a vivid interplay of these elements, the author crafts a narrative that resonates with authenticity and emotional depth, offering readers a profound insight into the world of the protagonist, Bone.
Symbolism
At the core of "Bastard Out of Carolina" lies potent symbolism, with Bone's birth certificate emerging as the primary symbol throughout the novel. This document, marked with the word illegitimate, vividly represents the circumstances of Bone's birth and her subsequent struggle with societal judgment and her own sense of illegitimacy. As long as this birth certificate retains its accusatory notation, Bone is metaphorically tethered to her past. However, in a transformative moment at the novel's conclusion, Bone embarks on a journey of self-renewal, prompted by her mother Anney's abandonment. This rebirth is symbolized by a new birth certificate, void of the demeaning label, signaling Bone's potential to redefine herself and chart a new path forward.
Symbolism extends beyond the birth certificate to encompass Bone's environment and experiences. Her physical hunger mirrors a deeper spiritual yearning—a desire for the stability and prosperity she perceives others enjoy. This yearning intensifies during visits to Daddy Glen's affluent family, emphasizing the stark contrast between her impoverished reality and the world of privilege. The dismal living conditions of the homes that Daddy Glen selects further underscore this symbolic barrenness. These houses, with their "dry, coarse grass" and "naked and abandoned" appearance, reflect a sense of unwantedness and neglect, mirroring Bone's internal struggle and longing for belonging.
Point of View
The narrative unfolds through Bone's first-person perspective, offering a deeply personal glimpse into her experiences. Recounting past events with the wisdom and insight of an adult, Bone's voice captures the dichotomy between childhood innocence and the complex, often harsh realities she faced. This narrative technique allows Allison to delve into the nuanced issues of poverty, social stigma, and familial dynamics that permeate the novel. Through Bone's retrospective lens, readers gain a broader understanding of her family's actions and motivations, even as Bone herself grapples with unanswered questions, particularly regarding her mother's choices.
This dual-layered perspective enriches the narrative, blending the immediacy of Bone's childhood experiences with an adult's reflective insight. Bone's storytelling becomes an act of healing, a means through which she attempts to unravel the complexities of her past and make peace with the choices that shaped her life. Yet, despite her efforts, certain mysteries, such as Anney's decision to leave, remain elusive—echoing the often incomprehensible nature of human relationships and decisions.
Setting
Set in Greenville, South Carolina, in 1955, the novel's backdrop plays a pivotal role in shaping Bone's experiences. This small-town southern setting, which Bone describes as "the most beautiful place in the world," is steeped in cultural and social nuances that influence every aspect of the narrative. The Boatwrights, identified by Bone as "white trash" after reading Gone with the Wind, embody the stereotype of poor white southerners—uneducated, battling alcoholism, and navigating a world of violence and moral ambiguity.
The oppressive southern heat permeates the story, with its "burned grass and baked dirt" serving as a metaphor for the suffocating reality of Bone's life. The era's racial tensions and economic disparities further underscore the setting's significance. As the Civil Rights movement begins to take shape, the absence of African Americans in the narrative highlights the segregation prevalent at the time. A brief encounter with an African American family sharing living space with Aunt Alma offers a rare glimpse into race relations, capturing the prejudice and economic challenges faced by the black community. This incident not only reflects the societal norms of the period but also underscores the pervasive nature of economic hardship that transcends racial lines.
Language
Allison's masterful use of language stands out as a defining feature of the novel, capturing the essence of southern speech without resorting to clichéd dialect. Her characters' dialogues, though ungrammatical, resonate with authenticity, reflecting the speech patterns of marginalized southerners. In an interview with Minnie Bruce Pratt for The Progressive, Allison articulates her commitment to portraying the voices of her characters with dignity, rejecting conventional dialect representations that imply ignorance. "The language rhythms of the people I am writing about come entirely from gospel music, country music, and the church," she explains, emphasizing the intelligence and depth of her characters despite their lack of formal education.
Allison's distinctive linguistic style in "Bastard Out of Carolina" eschews conventional transliterations in favor of genuine speech patterns. Words like ain't and the repetition of adjectives—"black black hair" and "black black heart"—illustrate her nuanced approach. These elements of language enrich the narrative, adding layers of meaning and authenticity that draw readers into Bone's world, allowing them to hear the music in her words and the truth in her experiences.
Ideas for Group Discussions
Allison's ability to transcend the abuse and poverty of her childhood demonstrates that these challenges do not have to be lifelong. However, studies indicate that she is more of an exception than the norm. Many children raised in poverty struggle to break free because they cannot envision a path to change their circumstances. Allison instills in Bone a determination to excel in school despite her difficult home life, a determination that was crucial in Allison's own journey out of poverty.
1. Federal and local governments offer programs to assist low-income families. Research what resources are available in your community.
2. Recognizing that self-sufficiency fosters self-confidence, suggest ways to enhance an individual's earning potential.
3. Propose methods your local schools can implement to ensure all students graduate with the necessary skills to secure employment.
4. Should the community support unwed mothers in completing their education?
5. Discuss possible alternatives available to an unwed, teenage mother.
6. Research the impact of giving up a baby for adoption on the mother's later life.
7. How does Allison convey her feminist views in Bastard out of Carolina?
8. What does research reveal about the effects of open adoption on the child, the birth mother, and the adoptive family?
9. Investigate the causes of infant mortality in your area.
10. Compare the current job outlook for women with the job prospects for women in the 1950s.
Compare and Contrast
-
1950s: A 1957 study reveals that approximately forty
million Americans live at or below the poverty line of $3,000 for a family of
four.
Today: By 1995, 36.4 million Americans, including 27.5 million families, live in poverty. The poverty threshold for a family of four is $15,569.
-
1950s: Throughout the decade, about sixty-three percent of
the U.S. population identifies as church members. In 1958, 109 million
Americans have an official religious affiliation.
Today: In 1998, seventy percent of Americans report being members of a church or synagogue. Forty percent have attended a church or synagogue within the past week.
-
1950s: By the end of the decade, thirty-nine percent of
women with children aged six to seventeen work outside the home. Approximately
6.6 million women with children aged seventeen and under are employed outside
the home.
Today: In the early 1990s, seventy-one percent of married women work outside the home. About 18.2 million women with children aged seventeen and under are employed outside the home.
-
1950s: The birthrate in 1957 is 4.3 million, translating
to 25.3 births per 1,000 Americans.
Today: In 1997, the birthrate is 3.8 million, or 14.6 births per 1,000 Americans.
-
1950s: The average age for a first marriage is twenty for
women and nearly twenty-three for men.
Today: The average age for a first marriage is twenty-four for women and nearly twenty-six for men.
-
1950s: By the end of the decade, 125 million Americans
reside in urban areas while 54 million live in rural regions. Throughout the
decade, the rural population decreases by seventeen percent, with an average of
1.4 million rural residents moving to cities each year for better-paying jobs.
Today: Currently, more than seventy-five percent of Americans live in urban areas.
Literary Precedents
Praised by George Garrett in the New York Times Book Review as "a major new talent," Allison's Bastard out of Carolina can be likened to the works of several authors. In Contemporary Literature, Horvitz draws a parallel to Gayl Jones's Corregidora. Horvitz highlights "the complex, intertwined relationships between sexual trauma, its repression, and its potential healing through narration/narrative" evident in both books. By comparing Bone and Ursa, Horvitz notes that both characters are in a form of bondage. He continues, "both novels stress the vital need to comprehend and integrate one's past, particularly when that history stems from and is rooted in sexual/violent trauma."
Patricia Gulian, writing for Library Journal, observes that the character Sister in Janice Daugharty's Like a Sister is reminiscent of Bone. Both characters endure poverty, abuse, and abandonment, and experience the alienation of being outsiders. While Bone finds a way to escape, Sister does not.
Adaptations
Aired on Showtime on December 15, 1996, Anjelica Huston's adaptation of Bastard out of Carolina offers a "blunt, at times shockingly graphic approach" to the novel, according to Lisa Schwarzbaum in Entertainment Weekly. Initially created for TNT, Ted Turner declined to broadcast the film, labeling it "too disturbing." Featuring eleven-year-old Jena Malone as Ruth Anne, Jennifer Jason Leigh as Anney, and Ron Eldard as Daddy Glen, the movie centers on Ruth Anne's "misery and her growing resolve to fight back." Although the viewer may feel ashamed watching the violence, Huston's achievement lies in creating "a sense of blood ties and love, even among family members as beaten down as the Boatwrights," Schwarzbaum notes.
Dorothy Allison narrates an audio version produced in 1993. Spanning two cassettes, the recording has a total runtime of 180 minutes. Publishers Weekly describes the reading as "persuasive in its eerie emotional tenor," praising Allison's voice for capturing the "ominous flat stillness of a calm before a storm."
Media Adaptations
- An audiotape of Bastard Out of Carolina, narrated by Allison, was released by Penguin Highbridge Audio in 1993.
- Angelica Houston directed the film adaptation of Bastard Out of Carolina, which featured a screenplay by Anne Meredith. Jennifer Jason Leigh portrayed Anney, while Jena Malone took on the role of Bone.
Bibliography and Further Reading
Sources
Aletti, Vince. Review of Bastard Out of Carolina. In Voice Literary
Supplement, June 1992, p. 7.
Garrett, George. "No Wonder People Got Crazy as They Grew Up." In New York Times, July 5, 1992, p. 3.
Herman, Judith Lewis. Trauma and Recovery. Basic Books, 1992.
Hollibaugh, Amber. Review of Bastard Out of Carolina. In Women's Review of Books, July 1992, p. 15.
Horvitz, Deborah. "'Sadism Demands a Story': Oedipus Feminism and Sexuality in Gayl Jones's 'Corregidora' and Dorothy Allison's 'Bastard Out of Carolina.'" In Contemporary Literature, Volume 39, No. 2, Summer 1998, p. 238.
Jetter, Alexis. Interview with Allison. In New York Times Magazine, December 17, 1995, p. 54.
Karpen, Lynn. Interview with Allison. In New York Times Book Review, June 26, 1994, p. 54.
Kenan, Randall. Review of Bastard Out of Carolina. In The Nation, December 28, 1992, p. 815.
Meem, Deborah. "Dorothy Allison: Overview." In Feminist Writers, edited by Pamela Kester-Shelton. St. James Press, 1996.
Review of Bastard Out of Carolina. In Publishers Weekly, January 27, 1992, p. 88.
Young, Elizabeth. Review of Bastard Out of Carolina. In New Statesman and Society, January 8, 1993, p. 41.
For Further Study
Jetter, Alexis. "The Roseanne of Literature." In New York Times
Magazine, December 17, 1995, p. 54. The piece offers a profile of Dorothy
Allison's life and background.
Pratt, Minnie Bruce. Interview with Dorothy Allison. In The Progressive, July 1995, p. 30. This in-depth interview explores Allison's career, educational history, and perspectives on politics and feminism.