12-14-2005, 07:21 AM
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#38 (permalink)
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absolute relativist
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The ending of The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck, 1939
If you can read this whole novel and comprehend what it took for Rose of Sharon to do what she does and NOT cry or shudder or whatever then I question your humanity.
Quote:
The boy was at her side again explaining: ‘I didn’t know.He said he et, or he wasn’
hungry. Las’ night I went an’ bust a winda an’ stoled some bread.Made ’im chew ’er
down. But he puked it all up, an’ then he was weaker. Got to have soup or milk.You
folks got money to git milk?’
Ma said: ‘Hush.Don’worry.We’ll figger somepin out.’
Suddenly the boy cried: ‘He’s dyin’, I tell you! He’s starvin’ to death, I tell you.’
‘Hush,’ said Ma. She looked at Pa and Uncle John standing helplessly gazing at the
sick man. She looked at Rose of Sharon huddled in the comforter.Ma’s eyes passed
Rose of Sharon’s eyes, and then came back to them.And the two women looked deep
into each other. The girl’s breath came short and gasping.
She said ‘Yes.’
Ma smiled.‘I knowed you would. I knowed!’ She looked down at her hands, tightlocked
in her lap.
Rose of Sharon whispered: ‘Will—will you all—go out?’ The rain whisked lightly on
the roof.
Ma leaned forward and with her palm she brushed the tousled hair back from her
daughter’s forehead, and she kissed her on the forehead.Ma got up quickly.‘Come
on, you fellas,’ she called.‘You come out in the tool shed.’
Ruthie opened her mouth to speak.‘Hush,’Ma said.‘Hush and git.’ She herded them
through the door, drew the boy with her; and she closed the squeaking door.
For a minute Rose of Sharon sat still in the whispering barn. Then she hoisted her
tired body up and drew the comforter about her. She moved slowly to the corner and
stood looking down at the wasted face, into the wide, frightened eyes. Then slowly
she lay down beside him.He shook his head slowly from side to side. Rose of Sharon
loosened one side of the blanket and bared her breast.‘You got to,’ she said. She
squirmed closer and pulled his head close.‘There!’ she said.‘There.’Her hand moved
behind his head and supported it.Her fingers moved gently in his hair. She looked
up and across the barn, and her lips came together and smiled mysteriously.
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Neither rain , nor cold, nor dark of night shall.......ahh whatever, just get me a beer!
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