Discussion Topic
The significance of the setting in "Jacob Have I Loved"
Summary:
The setting in "Jacob Have I Loved" is significant because it reflects the isolation and struggle of the protagonist, Louise. The remote island community in the Chesapeake Bay mirrors her feelings of being overshadowed by her twin sister, Caroline, and her desire to find her own identity and place in the world.
In Jacob Have I Loved, how does the setting impact the story?
The setting has a significant impact on the book Jacob Have I Loved. Sara Louise lives on the fictional Rass Island in the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland. Young people who live on the island have few opportunities there. Sara Louise's twin sister, Caroline, has to leave the island each week to take voice lessons. One must leave the island to attend college or to get a job. Even dating options are limited due to the small population on the island. Sara Louise, the narrator, gives an example of this when describing her high school English teacher, Mr. Rice. Many of the high school girls are "half in love" with Mr. Rice because he is "the only relatively unattached man most of [them] had ever known."
Sara Louise eventually does leave Rass to go to college. First she attends the University of Maryland, and then University of Kentucky. She takes...
Unlock This Answer Now
Start your 48-hour free trial and get ahead in class. Boost your grades with access to expert answers and top-tier study guides. Thousands of students are already mastering their assignments—don't miss out. Cancel anytime.
Already a member? Log in here.
a job in the mountains, far from Rass. Caroline also leaves to pursue studies at Juilliard in New York City.
In addition to how the setting causes the main characters to leave, the bay and island life are prominent throughout the story. Sara Louise's father is a fisherman, and she also makes a little money by catching crabs. Sara Louise repeatedly states that she does not want to stay on the island.
What is the setting of Jacob Have I Loved and why is it important?
Louise, the narrator of this novel, lives on Rass Island, and she is thirteen years old in 1941. Much of the book takes place during World War II. Both the setting of the island and the time period convey a sense of isolation that echoes Louise's feelings of loneliness, as she lives in the shadow of Caroline, her beautiful and talented twin sister.
Both twins learned piano while young, but Caroline soon emerged as the more gifted piano player and singer. This phenomenon, as well as Caroline's brush with death when she was born, has caused Louise to be frequently overlooked. Early in the novel, Louise quotes Caroline: " 'I haven't got anything to do but practise this summer, so I've decided to write a book about my life. Once you're known,' she explained carefully as though some of us were dim-witted, 'once you're famous, information like that is very valuable. If I don't get it down now, I may forget.' She said all this in that voice of hers that made me feel slightly nauseated." This quote captures the difference between the two twin sisters; Caroline feels she has a story to tell the wide world, one that the world will surely be interested in reading. In this way, Caroline expresses her ambitions that go beyond her current life on the island. Louise feels like she holds "a very minor role" in her twin's story, one that makes her feel lonely and unappreciated.
The war plays a significant role in the relationship between the twins. When the news breaks that the Japanese have bombed Pearl Harbor, Louise takes the report hard and embarrasses herself in class. When Caroline finds her, tearful and humiliated, Louise expresses her emotions with a desire to leave the island; she says to Louise in response: " 'Well, you can't run away tonight,' she said. 'There's no ferry until tomorrow morning. You might as well come in and have supper and get warm.' " Caroline's matter-of-fact tone contrasts powerfully with the warmth and emotion of Louise's experience. As the war intensifies, the conflict between the sisters deepens as they manage their fears and stresses very differently.