the Memory Keeper’s Daughter illuminator Brett Pallas
Pg. 47 ” Her name was Phoebe. I want somebody to say her name. Do you hear me?” she stood up. “I want someone to rembeber her name”
I thought that this was interesting becuase for some reason Norah refuses to let go of the “dead” baby. As the story progresses we see that this only becomes worse, and Norah continually goes back to her old house and revisits these memories. I beleive that by the way Norah is acting, that she is going to cause a lot of trouble and resentment between her and David.
Why do you think that Norah still carries the burden of the “dead” baby, even though she never saw or met the baby . She doesn’t even remember the birth. So as far as I can see, If David wouldn’t have told her they had twins she wouldn’t know about the second baby.
I also would like to add that I think it was very irresponsible for Caroline to take that baby as her own. Maybe she was just a little crazy at the time, but I think that she will come to regret her decision. Any thoughts??
Category: Illuminator 3 comments »
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:29 pm
I think that even if David had not told Norah about the second baby, she would still have some instinctual knowledge about her, for she is a mother. I also think that she cannot fully grasp or believe that Pheobe is dead, again because of her maternal instincts. I am interested to know why Caroline’s action of taking the baby was irresponsible. I think that perhaps she did this because she knew one day Norah would find out and she would want to meet her daughter. I think that this was a good idea on Caroline’s part because it showed how she cared for the Henry family. She may have also done it because she was in love with David and would not want to see him sad and depressed about his daughter living in a home.
~Megan Douglas
March 22nd, 2009 at 2:14 pm
First of all, I was confused about Norah caring about the dead baby as well. I have heard mothers talking about having a special love for their unborn children even though they have never even seen them. But, this kind of confused me as well. I could understand this feeling if neither of the children survived, but she has one perfectly happy and healthy child. I would think that she would be thankful that one survived and move on.
Secondly, I believe that Caroline kept the child as her own either because she just wanted a child, or because she just couldn’t stand the thought of a child growing up in an institution like that. I don’t think it was because she cared for the Henry family as Megan said.
March 22nd, 2009 at 4:09 pm
To start, I don’t think David not telling Norah would be the best road to take. What if Phoebe were to come back someday, and “Here you go, Norah, this is Paul’s twin that you never met because I sent her away.” Imagine how well that would go over.
I think Caroline kept Phoebe because she loves David so much. If it was some other family, she might have just given the baby to the home anyway. I also could agree with Derrick that the thought of a child growing up abandoned in an institution just would not sit well on Caroline’s conscience.