Setting
Which state/city is the story's main setting taking place?
Ohio, Middlewood
Define serene
calm, peaceful, or tranquil
What is the significance of this quote?
Lydia is dead. But they don't know this yet. 1977, May 3, six thirty in the morning, no one knows nothing but this one innocuous fact: Lydia is late for breakfast. (1)
The start of the story opening with a mystery. This is the viewers first interaction with the character.
What is the significance of this quote?
Only if you’re interested,” she told Lydia, every time. “Only if you want to.” She meant it, every time, but she did not realize she was holding her breath. Lydia did. Yes, she said, everytime. Yes. Yes. And her mother would breathe again. (159)
Marilyn doesn’t force Lydia directly to do the things she expects her to do, however, Lydia is doing all the work her mother want her to do in order to make her mother not leave the house again.
Define the model minority Myth
Stereotype of asian Americans in US that Asian Americans achieve higher degree of success than population average
Where was Lydia's corpse found? How does the imagine of the place change throughout the story?
Beautiful lake→ glorified pond → unforgetful (Lydia’s death)
Define brimming
the upper edge of anything hollow; rim
What is the significance of this quote?
You’ve never been in a room where no one else looked like you. You’ve never had people mock you to your face. You’ve never been treated like a stranger… you have no idea what it’s like, being different. (242)
James is angry at marilyn and saying everything he never said before when Marilyn found out about the africa and she said “I guess you’re long overdue for a trade in. She’d make a very nice little wife.” This shows what James has been budding up within him for years and is expressed to Marylin.
He had never felt he belonged here, even though he’d been born on American soil. (40)
James has always felt out of place and this was the start of his consciousness on his race and identity.
What harmful effect did the protagonist of the video face due to their family's crave in excellence?
Dwell on failures
Felt like she had failed herself
Never being enough
What year has Lydia gone missing?
1977
Define glint
brief or light flash of light; gleaming brightness
What is the significance of this quote?
From those two syllables - Kowtow - explode bent-backed coolies in cone ahts, pigtailed Chinamen with sandwiched palms. Squinty and servile. Bowing and belittled. He has long suspected that everyone sees him this way- Stanley Hewitt, the policemen, the checkout girl at the grocery store. But he had not thought that everyone included Marilyn. ( 116)
When Marylin refers to James "kowtowing" to the police, James thought Marilyn was different from others (person who does not discriminating asian) but realizes she was the same.
What is the significance of this quote?
When the policemen have gone, Marilyn and James sit down with a piece of scratch paper, The police have suggested they call all of Lydia’s friends, anyone who might know where she’s gone. Together they construct a list : Pam Saunders. Jenn Pittman. Shelly Brierley. (15)
This takes place when James and Marylin begin to gather Lydia's friend contacts to find suspects. This shows Lydia's social dynamics at school and
What were the things that were expected of the protagonist?
Had to get good grade in everything all the time
What significance did Jack’s car have to Lydia and to her progression of emotions?
The car both served as a symbol of rebellions to Nath and the conversation between Jack and Lydia shows both of Lydia’s status and of the dynamics between Nath and Lydia.
Define triumphantly
exulting over victory; rejoicing over success
What is the significance of this quote?
Their mother. Their father. Nath. Hannah did not know everything Lydia thought she understood - the necklace, Louisa, all I want you to remember - but she knew that something had shifted inside her sister, that she was balanced on a dangerous, high up ledge. She sat very still, as if one wrong move might tip Lydia off the edge, and ludic belt out the flames with one quick puff. (239)
This is when Hannah realizes that there is something wrong with Lydia (Lydia under immense pressure, father’s expectation, Louisa and everything has overlapped breaking something within her)
What is the significance of this quote?
When, along, long time later, he states down at the silent blue marble of the earth and thinks of his sister, as he will ever important moment of his life. He doesn’t know this yet, but he sense it deep down in his core. So much will happen, he think that I would want to tell you. (291)
This brings the symbolic meaning of the lake, which was constantly changing throughout the book into a conclusion. Something that the family will never forget.
In what ways does the protagonist overcome her self?
Took two years to spend time with family, work and reflect on her life path
Spend more time for herself and with her friends
What significance does the place “Toledo” have throughout the story?
This was the place both Marilyn and James fled to, away from there family. This also serves as a turning point for both characters as sudden epiphanies caused them to come back to the family. (A beautiful symmetry to life) (250)
Define cradling
framework for supporting a covered or vaulted ceiling
What is the significance of this quote?
For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. One went up and the other went down. One gained, the other lost. One escaped, the other was trapped, forever. (225)
Nath is leaving the house and Lydia realizes that if he leaves it will trap her in forever in the house.
What is the significance of this quote?
...trapped like a fly in this small and sad and empty house, this small and sad and empty life, her daughter gone, no trace of herself left except these pencil-marked dreams. Was she sad? She was angry. Furious at the smallness of her mother’s life. This, she thought fiercely, touching the cookbook’s cover. This is all i need to remember about her. This is all I want to keep. (83)
Marilyn sells everything in her mother’s house but cookbook
The cookbook shows life of Marilyn’s mother. All she did in her life was cook and raising Marilyn.
What happened after she got into Harvard?
Paralyzed by amount of choices
No clue of what she had to do