To Da-duh in Memoriam

by Paule Marshall

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Student Question

Why did Da-duh believe her granddaughter was lying?

Quick answer:

Da-duh thought her granddaughter was lying because she had never been in a big city or seen skyscrapers.

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When the narrator was nine years old, she and her mother traveled from New York to visit her family in St. Thomas. The girl, who had been born and raised in Brooklyn, spent considerable amounts of time with her maternal grandmother, whom she calls Da-duh. In the story, the adult narrator recalls how she teased her grandmother, who had always lived in the same small town. The girl enjoyed telling Da-duh about the sights and sounds of Brooklyn, where she lived with her parents who had moved away from the island.

On the one hand, she delighted in recounting the impressive things that were part of her everyday environment. On the other hand, her goals were less than praiseworthy, as she was trying to make her grandmother jealous. The child intended to demonstrate the superiority of her home to the island, which she believes has many shortcomings. She is unfamiliar with a rural environment. Da-duh, in contrast, believes there are no trees in New York.

Two of the things she tries to impress Da-duh with are snow and tall buildings. Initially, Da-duh simply looks dubious upon hearing of the extreme cold and the white flakes blanketing the earth. As the girl’s tales grow more complex, Da-duh challenges her, pointing out the tallest tree in the vicinity. When the girl tries to describe the Empire State Building (in the 1930s, the tallest building in New York), Da-duh refuses to believe it could be so tall, and accuses her granddaughter of lying. The girl promises to send proof, in the form of a postcard, when she returns home.

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