Writing in Context

The Member of the

WeddingBy Carson McCullers

GenreThe Genre of this novel is a typical, coming-of-age story – drama - fiction

NarrationNarration – The narration is almost exclusively from the point of view of Frankie.

The novel can be divided into three main sections:

Part 1 – confusion Part 2 – the day before; in the town

Part 3 – leaving home; the wedding finale

Characters:Frankie Addams - Protagonist, 12 years old – daughter of Royal Quincy Addams & cousin of John Henry WestIn between childhood and adolescence/young adulthood, Frankie feels alienated and is trying to run away from her drab life

Changes her name to F. Jasmine Addams, and then Frances

Characters:John Henry West 6 year old first cousin of Frankievery bright symbolises childhood very calm in contrast with Frankie dies at the end of the novel represents Frankie’s entering adolescence and leaving childhood behind

Characters:Bernice Sadie Brown Addams’ family housekeeper – straight forward, “voice of reason”

Characters:Royal Quincy Addams Frankie’s father, a widower - fairly removed from the actions of the novel

Characters:Soldier unnamed, on three days leave, and after sex - represents the harsh reality of adult life

Characters:Jarvis Addams Frankie’s older brother – marries Janice Evans

ThemesSome of the

themes present in The Member of the Wedding are:

Theme - Fear“…….with somebody sleeping in the dark with her, she was not so much afraid”.

“It was the Summer of fear.”

Frankie is on the brink of emotional and sexual maturity

she feels isolated she does not belong to any group

she has little control over her physical growth

Obsesses about running away her brother and his new wife after the wedding.

Growing up is very challenging - not an instant process. Frankie tries to transform her appearance and changes her name to F. Jasmine but her encounter with the soldier highlights how innocent she really is.

Feeling afraid for the changes that are taking place in us is normal.

Theme - BelongingWe need to feel we belong to a group to feel empowered

At the start of the novel, Frankie is struggling with who she is, who she was as a child and who she will become as a young adult. Central to these identify issues is the fact that she feels alienated from others and the world.

Theme – Alienation & Loneliness

Afraid and feeling deep isolation, Frankie learns that her older brother Jarvis is to marry. She irrationally decides that on the wedding day she will somehow join her brother and his bride to become a third member of their wedding.

Theme - IdentityAs we grow through life our identify changes or is modified. This can lead to uneasy and uncomfortable years in adolescence trying on what fits for us.

Most importantly we may try on different “facades” images, friendship groups – growing up into who we truly are is a process of trial and error. It is important not to fall for superficial change.

In the novel, Frankie changes her name to F. Jasmine as it sounds more mature and sophisticated, but this is just a superficial change.

Themes - Journey of Growth The Member of the Wedding is a coming of age novel – also referred to as a bildungsroman text.

Frankie is on an inner quest to grow and develop into a young adult.

She is frustrated and restless, impatiently waiting for something better.

Themes - Journey of Growth

The quest is often symbolised by a physical journey, such as travelling to the wedding.

At the wedding Frankie must really “grow up” and feel the pain of her delusional belief that she would be able to tag along with the married couple.

Themes - Journey of Growth Journeys of inner growth often feature loss, painful realisations as turning points.

John Henry’s abrupt death symbolises Frankie’s transition into young adulthood and leaving her childhood behind.

QuotesHere are some interesting

quotes that are relevant to the Context of Identity and

Belonging:“She loved her brother and the bride and she was a member of the wedding.”

Quotes“Is it cold up there?”(teasing by children to Frankie)

“It seemed to her that they had looked at her in a secret way and tried to connect their eyes with hers, as though to say: we know you.” (about the prisoners in the jail)

Quotes“They are the we of me”.

“We all of us somehow caught.”

(Berenice)

Happy Studying