In chapter 11 we start getting bits and pieces of information that explains to us the behavior of Joanna Burden. We learn that her half brother and grandfather died trying to fight for the rights of the black race. Joanna's father (Nathaniel) takes her to burial site where her half brother and grandfather were buried. Nathaniel tells her, "'The curse of the black race is God's curse. But the curse of the white race is the black man who will forever God's chosen own because He once cursed him'" (p.253). Joanna has been given the duty to continue to fight for the rights of the black community.
All the experiences that Joanna has endured explains, like Cynthia M said, "her independence, endurance of strength, and fortitude." Joe always found her quite masculine for the lack of emotion Joanna conveyed; dissimulated all her thoughts. However, she finally reveals to Joe her history which clarifies her magnanimous actions towards the black community (donating, advising others, etc.). Joanna Burden could, hopefully, be the savior that Joe Christmas needed.
We already know, though, that she was not Christmas' savior. Either he or Brown killed her (and I strongly suspect that it was Christmas, as much as I sympathize, and perhaps somewhat empathize with him); and by the "present," (meaning: when Lena arrives in town) they've already split, romantically. Something happened; so the question is "what?"
ReplyDeleteI think she is far from a savior. Personally i think she makes his situation worse. He begins to get used to the life he is living. He expects to have food, a house, a lover. I think this will cause him to be even more violent in the future. We find out that Miss Burden had the intention of killing herself and Joe, if anything that proves to me that Joe was the one who set the house on fire and killed miss Burden. Joe is violent and he seems to always want revenge. He killed McEachern someone who had tortured him physically, but gave him the punishment he waited anticipated, why wouldn't he do the same with Burden?
ReplyDeleteI agree with the comments above. Christmas had a reason to kill McEachern, he was someone who brought torture upon Christmas. It never seemed as if Miss Burden brought pain upon him, so why did Christmas kill her?
ReplyDeleteI don't think she can be described as his savior when she has become nothing but a burden to her. Just like McEachern she is trying to make him into something he is not. Which I think will result in the same violence that took McEacherns life.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Andrea. I dont think that Miss. burden is Joe's saving grace. Toward their first incounters, she seemed vey lifeless and it angered Joe which made him become even more violent. As time goes by in their relationship, Miss. Burden also begins to become more violent toward Joe which isnt helping him. Miss. Burden also tries to impose religion onto Joe even though she knows what experience he had with relgious acts in his past.
ReplyDeleteCould have Miss. Burden's attitude toward Joe lef to her death pr could there be more to it?
DeleteI don't think that she is a savior, she is more of a burden like Andrea said. She is becoming more like McEachern rather than actually helping him .
ReplyDeleteI think Joe rejects her kindness and hospitality because he isn't used to this kind of affection. I think it reminds him of Mrs. McEachern when she would be kind because he thought she was mocking him. So Joe would be violent towards Ms. Burden and force her into sex and break her plates. So Joe constant totures leaves Ms. Burden being fed up and killing both of them, but failing.
ReplyDeleteI believe that she could be her savior however they both need to learn how to compromise. Joanna has a masculine / dominate personality which Joe does not particularly like. He feels hatred because she makes him remember Mr. McEachern. Joe doesn't get in trusting relationships because of his past experience with Bobbie. She may not know of her but she has to understand that he's gone through many experiences. But these two characters reject each others personality by not compromising which means they are not each others saviors when they could have been.
ReplyDeleteI think Ms. Burden is a burden to Christmas. Especially now that she is dead. I strongly suspect that Christmas did kill her. So if he did kill her he has that weight on his shoulders of him murdering her.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the comments above, she is not a savior to Christmas. She wants to make him something he is not and maybe that is why he rejects her kindness towards him.
ReplyDeleteWhile I agree Ms. Burden is a savior to Christmas because she does force him to become something he's not, and that's why he rejects her kindness... but I also feel part of it is also his history. I think he let his past become a burden in his present life.
DeleteI agree if she didn't try so hard to make him something he is not then their relationship would have turned out better.
DeleteMiss Burden seems to be fulfilling her own personal desires through Christmas. Due to her family's past and her own choices to uphold it, she will always be single...
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