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THE TWO GRANDMOTHERS - Literature Notes
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Olive Senior, author of 'The Two Grandmothers', was born in Trelawney, Jamaica. She attended Montego Bay High School, then went on to study journalism in Cardiff, Wales. She then studied at Carlton University in Ottowa. She currently lives in Canada, but visits Jamaica regularly. http://enloehs.wcpss.net/projects/west02/senior/bio.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olive_Senior |
PLOT
The story opens with a little girl telling her mother about her experiences with her two grandmothers; grandma Dell and grandma Elaine a.k.a Touser. Grandma Dell is her 'country' grandmother who lives in rural Jamaica, raises lifestock, caters to her community, takes her grand daughter to church and is enamored by her grand daughter's 'pretty' skin and hair. Grandma Elaine, on the other hand, is her 'town' grandmother. She has had multiple marriages, is a socialite who dates wealthy men, travels, and is very concerned about her physical appearance. The grand daughter, initially, prefers her country grandmother, who is very attentive to her needs and loved to 'show her off' to her friends and neighbours. However, as the story progresses, and the narrator ages and matures, she begins to prefer her town grandmother, who is more cosmopolitan and appreciative of material things. With her change in attitude to grandma Dell, however, also comes a change in attitude to her country friends. They are no longer figures who inspire awe, but girls to look down on as 'less than'. The story closes with the teenage narrator proposing that her family should spend a day with her country grandmother - then she would be taken care of until next year - ensuring that they have more time to spend with Touser (Grandma Elaine) as well as pursue more interesting exploits.
The story opens with a little girl telling her mother about her experiences with her two grandmothers; grandma Dell and grandma Elaine a.k.a Touser. Grandma Dell is her 'country' grandmother who lives in rural Jamaica, raises lifestock, caters to her community, takes her grand daughter to church and is enamored by her grand daughter's 'pretty' skin and hair. Grandma Elaine, on the other hand, is her 'town' grandmother. She has had multiple marriages, is a socialite who dates wealthy men, travels, and is very concerned about her physical appearance. The grand daughter, initially, prefers her country grandmother, who is very attentive to her needs and loved to 'show her off' to her friends and neighbours. However, as the story progresses, and the narrator ages and matures, she begins to prefer her town grandmother, who is more cosmopolitan and appreciative of material things. With her change in attitude to grandma Dell, however, also comes a change in attitude to her country friends. They are no longer figures who inspire awe, but girls to look down on as 'less than'. The story closes with the teenage narrator proposing that her family should spend a day with her country grandmother - then she would be taken care of until next year - ensuring that they have more time to spend with Touser (Grandma Elaine) as well as pursue more interesting exploits.
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SETTING
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CONFLICT
Touser dislikes Grandma Dell because she perceives her as old and dowdy. This perception eventually becomes the protagonist's belief as well, as she matures, which led the protagonist to withdrawal from her grandmother. There is also conflict between the protagonist and her childhood (country) friends and her cousin in Clearwater.
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CHARACTERS
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Grandma Dell
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Grandma Elaine (Towser)
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Protagonist/ Narrator
- Adored her grandmother when she was a child, but maturity saw her viewing Grandma Dell as a burdensome obligation.
- Has a low self-esteem, due to prolonged exposure to Touser.
- As she matures, she believes herself to be better than her country friends.
THEMATIC TABLE
THEMES
Racial Prejudice
This theme is highlighted by Grandma Elaine/ Touser and the Clearwater relatives. Grandma Elaine highlights this theme by her reference to the narrator's hair, 'your mother had better start to do something about your hair from now it's almost as tough as your father's .... If you were my child I would cut it off to get some of the kinks out.' (Senior, 119). Her skin tone also comes under scrutiny 'Joyce says Grandma is sorry I came out dark because she is almost a white lady and I am really dark.' (Senior, 120). The grandmother's preoccupation with the fact that her grand daughter has predominantly black features highlights the theme of racial discrimination. She sees these features as flaws and passes this sentiment on to her grandchild. We see the child questioning if being dark is a bad thing 'Is dark really bad, Mummy?' (Senior, 120).
This is in contrast to the country grandmother, Grandma Del, who re-enforces the very opposite view of Grandma Elaine. She believes that her grandchild's hair is beautiful 'Grandma loves to comb my hair she says it's so long and thick and she rubs it with castor oil every night.' (Senior, 117) and her skin is beautiful as well 'Grandma Del says my skin is beautiful like honey' (Senior, 117). Despite this positive re-enforcement by Grandma Del, it still comes from a place of prejudice. She too, like Grandma Elaine, believes that being too dark and having too much 'kink' in one's hair is a bad thing. The two grandmothers only differ in terms of their idea of what is 'too dark', or 'too kinky'.
The Clearwater relatives, particularly Maureen, highlights the theme of racial prejudice. She introduces the term 'nigger' to the story. The narrator questions her beauty based on what she observes as beautiful around her, and finds herself lacking; 'how can I be beautiful? My skin is so dark, darker than yours and Maureen's and Jason's and Auntie Rita's. And my hair is so course, not like yours or Maureen's but then Maureen's father is white. Is that why Maureen called me a nigger?' (Senior, 124). The narrator declares that she hates Maureen, based on the before mentioned incident, but, ironically, she wants to be like Maureen and is even more ashamed of her hair.
Social Prejudice
This theme is highlighted by Grandma Elaine, Grandma Dell, and the narrator. Grandma Elaine has a distinct disdain for Grandma Dell. She believes that 'granny Del' is a country bumpkin from the 'deepest darkest country' (Senior, 118). She sees her as irrelevant and believes that she is brainwashing her grandchild with information that is not only irrelevant, but embarrassing as well. This disdain comes from the fact that Elaine is a socialite who's world is the direct opposite of the simplistic life that Grandma Del leads. Grandma Elaine dates rich white men, travels, and ensures that she maintains her beauty. She views Grandma Dell with scorn because she does not do the same.
The reader receives no inkling of Grandma Del's feelings toward Grandma Elaine, but we are treated to the judgement that she quietly metes out to her neighbours in the country. She views Ermandine and Eulalie as 'a disgraceful Jezebel-lot and dry-eye' (Senior, 121) because they have disgraced their parents by getting pregnant. She views them as being beneath her, despite the fact that she also did the same, and was also shunned by the communityfor a period of time.
The narrator, in turn, adopts the prejudices of both grandmothers. She starts to dislike going to the country because 'there's nobody but black people' (Senior, 123) there. She looks down on her friends - Ermandine, Eulalie and Pearlie - due to their multiple pregnancies and bedraggled state. She starts to literally avoid them because she does not want them to ask her for some of her clothes. Everything about being in the country (rural area), from the people to her experiences, annoys her - in her teen years - because visiting the country is shameful in relation to going to Europe or America. It is not considered to be a socially relevant activity.
Love and Family Relationships
Both grandmothers love their grandchild, and she loves them in return. Grandma Del shows her love by combing her grand daughter's hair, taking her to church, steering her away from negative influences, and educating her about appropriate behaviour. Initially, this education is appreciated and accepted by the narrator, but as she grows up and matures, she views this show of love as stifling and irrelevant. The narrator does not love her grandmother any less, it is just that their point of views no longer align.
Grandma Elaine, on the other hand, shows her love for her grandchild by highlighting her flaws and seeking to improve them. Therefore, she points out that the child's hair is kinky and her skin is too dark. Undoubtadley, this is an inappropriate conversation to have with a small child, however, this is her flawed way of showing her love. She suggests activities for improving the child's social prospects such as finishing school and visits off the island. The narrator returns this love by eventually placing Grandma Elaine as the favoured grandmother. She even adopts, eventually, her materialistic sensibility.
Women in Society
This is a story about women, the values that they pass on, and the way that they treat each other. There are women of different social status' and financial backgrounds in the , and all of them contribute to this theme. Grandma Elaine is of a high social status and she treats grandma Del, who is of a lower social status, with disdain. Grandma Del, in turn, treats Eulalie, Ermandine and Pearlie with disdain for being poor, as well as victims of their financial, and social, circumstances. The narrator joins this cycle by discriminating against her 'country' friends by viewing herself as better than them. Ironically, she suffers the same treatment at the hands of her cousin, Maureen, who treats the narrator as 'less than' as well. The possible moral of this tale is that women should try to understand and accept each other.
Innocence vs. Loss of Innocence
As a child, the narrator reports the actions of others without understanding a lot of what is happening. This is the definition of innocence. She also accepts people for who they are and sees the good in them. This is seen in her awe at Eulalee's skills in the kitchen, as well as her acceptance of Ermandine and Pearlie's babies. She simply accepted without judgement. This changes as the child matures and she starts to view herself as better than her friends. This is because her circumstances happen to be better than theirs. This signifies a loss of innocence that comes with maturity.
Racial Prejudice
This theme is highlighted by Grandma Elaine/ Touser and the Clearwater relatives. Grandma Elaine highlights this theme by her reference to the narrator's hair, 'your mother had better start to do something about your hair from now it's almost as tough as your father's .... If you were my child I would cut it off to get some of the kinks out.' (Senior, 119). Her skin tone also comes under scrutiny 'Joyce says Grandma is sorry I came out dark because she is almost a white lady and I am really dark.' (Senior, 120). The grandmother's preoccupation with the fact that her grand daughter has predominantly black features highlights the theme of racial discrimination. She sees these features as flaws and passes this sentiment on to her grandchild. We see the child questioning if being dark is a bad thing 'Is dark really bad, Mummy?' (Senior, 120).
This is in contrast to the country grandmother, Grandma Del, who re-enforces the very opposite view of Grandma Elaine. She believes that her grandchild's hair is beautiful 'Grandma loves to comb my hair she says it's so long and thick and she rubs it with castor oil every night.' (Senior, 117) and her skin is beautiful as well 'Grandma Del says my skin is beautiful like honey' (Senior, 117). Despite this positive re-enforcement by Grandma Del, it still comes from a place of prejudice. She too, like Grandma Elaine, believes that being too dark and having too much 'kink' in one's hair is a bad thing. The two grandmothers only differ in terms of their idea of what is 'too dark', or 'too kinky'.
The Clearwater relatives, particularly Maureen, highlights the theme of racial prejudice. She introduces the term 'nigger' to the story. The narrator questions her beauty based on what she observes as beautiful around her, and finds herself lacking; 'how can I be beautiful? My skin is so dark, darker than yours and Maureen's and Jason's and Auntie Rita's. And my hair is so course, not like yours or Maureen's but then Maureen's father is white. Is that why Maureen called me a nigger?' (Senior, 124). The narrator declares that she hates Maureen, based on the before mentioned incident, but, ironically, she wants to be like Maureen and is even more ashamed of her hair.
Social Prejudice
This theme is highlighted by Grandma Elaine, Grandma Dell, and the narrator. Grandma Elaine has a distinct disdain for Grandma Dell. She believes that 'granny Del' is a country bumpkin from the 'deepest darkest country' (Senior, 118). She sees her as irrelevant and believes that she is brainwashing her grandchild with information that is not only irrelevant, but embarrassing as well. This disdain comes from the fact that Elaine is a socialite who's world is the direct opposite of the simplistic life that Grandma Del leads. Grandma Elaine dates rich white men, travels, and ensures that she maintains her beauty. She views Grandma Dell with scorn because she does not do the same.
The reader receives no inkling of Grandma Del's feelings toward Grandma Elaine, but we are treated to the judgement that she quietly metes out to her neighbours in the country. She views Ermandine and Eulalie as 'a disgraceful Jezebel-lot and dry-eye' (Senior, 121) because they have disgraced their parents by getting pregnant. She views them as being beneath her, despite the fact that she also did the same, and was also shunned by the communityfor a period of time.
The narrator, in turn, adopts the prejudices of both grandmothers. She starts to dislike going to the country because 'there's nobody but black people' (Senior, 123) there. She looks down on her friends - Ermandine, Eulalie and Pearlie - due to their multiple pregnancies and bedraggled state. She starts to literally avoid them because she does not want them to ask her for some of her clothes. Everything about being in the country (rural area), from the people to her experiences, annoys her - in her teen years - because visiting the country is shameful in relation to going to Europe or America. It is not considered to be a socially relevant activity.
Love and Family Relationships
Both grandmothers love their grandchild, and she loves them in return. Grandma Del shows her love by combing her grand daughter's hair, taking her to church, steering her away from negative influences, and educating her about appropriate behaviour. Initially, this education is appreciated and accepted by the narrator, but as she grows up and matures, she views this show of love as stifling and irrelevant. The narrator does not love her grandmother any less, it is just that their point of views no longer align.
Grandma Elaine, on the other hand, shows her love for her grandchild by highlighting her flaws and seeking to improve them. Therefore, she points out that the child's hair is kinky and her skin is too dark. Undoubtadley, this is an inappropriate conversation to have with a small child, however, this is her flawed way of showing her love. She suggests activities for improving the child's social prospects such as finishing school and visits off the island. The narrator returns this love by eventually placing Grandma Elaine as the favoured grandmother. She even adopts, eventually, her materialistic sensibility.
Women in Society
This is a story about women, the values that they pass on, and the way that they treat each other. There are women of different social status' and financial backgrounds in the , and all of them contribute to this theme. Grandma Elaine is of a high social status and she treats grandma Del, who is of a lower social status, with disdain. Grandma Del, in turn, treats Eulalie, Ermandine and Pearlie with disdain for being poor, as well as victims of their financial, and social, circumstances. The narrator joins this cycle by discriminating against her 'country' friends by viewing herself as better than them. Ironically, she suffers the same treatment at the hands of her cousin, Maureen, who treats the narrator as 'less than' as well. The possible moral of this tale is that women should try to understand and accept each other.
Innocence vs. Loss of Innocence
As a child, the narrator reports the actions of others without understanding a lot of what is happening. This is the definition of innocence. She also accepts people for who they are and sees the good in them. This is seen in her awe at Eulalee's skills in the kitchen, as well as her acceptance of Ermandine and Pearlie's babies. She simply accepted without judgement. This changes as the child matures and she starts to view herself as better than her friends. This is because her circumstances happen to be better than theirs. This signifies a loss of innocence that comes with maturity.
QUESTIONS
1. What is appealing, for the protagonist, at grandma's house?
2. Describe grandma Del's house?
3. Who passes by grandma Del's house? Who passes by the protagonist's house? What is highlighted by this contrast?
4. What does the term 'Eulalie fell' mean?
5. Grandma Del is the parent of which of the protagonist's parents? Provide evidence.
6. Quote the evidence that proves that grandma Del 'fell' as well.
7. How does the audience know that the little girl does not attend church consistently?
8. Why did grandma not send the protagonist's hat home?
9. How does the protagonist feel about the fact that grandma made her dresses? Why?
10. What is grandma Del's early morning ritual?
11. How are grandma Del's stories different from mommy's?
12. What does the fact that grandma Elaine/Towser wants her granddaughter to call her Towser reveal about her?
13. What does Grandma Elaine/Towser think of Grandma Del?
14. Why does grandma Elaine/Towser not want the protagonist to stay with grandma Del? What is the suggested alternative?
15. What does grandma Elaine/Towser think of the protagonist's hair?
16. Who is Grandma Elaine/Towser's child?
17. How many times has grandma Elaine/Towser been married?
18. Describe grandma Elaine/Towser's date?
19. Why is the protagonist confused about why grandma Elaine/Towser wants her to visit her home?
20. Where does the protagonist want her mother to take her? Why?
21. What item does the protagonist want her mother to get?
22. What feeling is elicited in grandma Elaine/Towser when she sees the protagonist's skin and hair?
23. List four differences between the two grandmothers.
24. Who is Pearlie? Describe the circumstances under which she lives?
25. What does the term 'force ripe' mean?
26. Why does grandma Del not like Eulalie and Ermandine?
27. 'Cockroach nuh bizniz inna fowl roos.' (p.121). What does this term mean?
28. When is grandma Del most happy?
29. How are the people in the rural and the servants in town similar?
30. What new prospects are in store for Eulalie and Ermandine when the protagonist returns to the country?
31. What is grandma Del/Towser's new boyfriend's name?
32. Why is the protagonist ashamed to tell her friends that she's going to the country
33. Why is the country boring?
34. Give evidence to prove that the protagonist now dislikes the country, as well as going too church?
35. Give evidence to prove that the protagonist's attitude towards Eulalie and Ermandine has changed?
36. What fact does the reader learn about grandma Del, from Ermandine?
37. List two things that the protagonist is ashamed of?
38. What is the name of grandma Elaine/Towser's new boyfriend?
39. What was the protagonist's suggestion regarding visiting grandma Del?
1. What is appealing, for the protagonist, at grandma's house?
2. Describe grandma Del's house?
3. Who passes by grandma Del's house? Who passes by the protagonist's house? What is highlighted by this contrast?
4. What does the term 'Eulalie fell' mean?
5. Grandma Del is the parent of which of the protagonist's parents? Provide evidence.
6. Quote the evidence that proves that grandma Del 'fell' as well.
7. How does the audience know that the little girl does not attend church consistently?
8. Why did grandma not send the protagonist's hat home?
9. How does the protagonist feel about the fact that grandma made her dresses? Why?
10. What is grandma Del's early morning ritual?
11. How are grandma Del's stories different from mommy's?
12. What does the fact that grandma Elaine/Towser wants her granddaughter to call her Towser reveal about her?
13. What does Grandma Elaine/Towser think of Grandma Del?
14. Why does grandma Elaine/Towser not want the protagonist to stay with grandma Del? What is the suggested alternative?
15. What does grandma Elaine/Towser think of the protagonist's hair?
16. Who is Grandma Elaine/Towser's child?
17. How many times has grandma Elaine/Towser been married?
18. Describe grandma Elaine/Towser's date?
19. Why is the protagonist confused about why grandma Elaine/Towser wants her to visit her home?
20. Where does the protagonist want her mother to take her? Why?
21. What item does the protagonist want her mother to get?
22. What feeling is elicited in grandma Elaine/Towser when she sees the protagonist's skin and hair?
23. List four differences between the two grandmothers.
24. Who is Pearlie? Describe the circumstances under which she lives?
25. What does the term 'force ripe' mean?
26. Why does grandma Del not like Eulalie and Ermandine?
27. 'Cockroach nuh bizniz inna fowl roos.' (p.121). What does this term mean?
28. When is grandma Del most happy?
29. How are the people in the rural and the servants in town similar?
30. What new prospects are in store for Eulalie and Ermandine when the protagonist returns to the country?
31. What is grandma Del/Towser's new boyfriend's name?
32. Why is the protagonist ashamed to tell her friends that she's going to the country
33. Why is the country boring?
34. Give evidence to prove that the protagonist now dislikes the country, as well as going too church?
35. Give evidence to prove that the protagonist's attitude towards Eulalie and Ermandine has changed?
36. What fact does the reader learn about grandma Del, from Ermandine?
37. List two things that the protagonist is ashamed of?
38. What is the name of grandma Elaine/Towser's new boyfriend?
39. What was the protagonist's suggestion regarding visiting grandma Del?
Contributor: Leisa Samuels-Thomas
Senior, Olive. 'The Two Grandmothers' in A World of Prose. Edited by David Williams and Hazel-Simmonds-McDonald. (Harlow: Essex). Pearson Education, 2005.
Senior, Olive. 'The Two Grandmothers' in A World of Prose. Edited by David Williams and Hazel-Simmonds-McDonald. (Harlow: Essex). Pearson Education, 2005.
