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The Color Of Water Analysis

Decent Essays

The Color Of Water Journal Entries

Chapters 1-3 :

[1] Ruth's memory of her childhood includes the explanation of her drastic separation from her family, that explains why she always avoids the topic of her family when it's brought up. Ruth is hesitant to remember the memories of her painful past.
[2] In the second chapter, James introduces his own voice. He begins by describing his mother's strange traits, which are both likable and embarrassing, and explains her difference from his friends parents and other adults. James first reveals one of the reasons for writing this memoir, which is to find explanations for his mother's behavior in the events that went on in her life.
[3] Ruth describes her parents arranged marriage. Her father was only able to come to America from his wife being in a higher class. She describes the strictness and specific rules of Orthodox Judaism. She also explains that she believes …show more content…

When he asks his siblings about his race or his background, they tease him, lie, or dismiss him. When he asks his mother about herself, she avoids the question or answers briefly.
[5] Ruth's description of her childhood allows James to understand how she decided to live her own life. Living being surrounded buy black people and interacting with them every day, she witnessed their lives and struggles. She saw her father treat them horribly, just like he treated her badly. Ruth often ignored her father's racist beliefs, like she ignored many parts of her father's personality and his treatment of his family.
[6] James describes his mother's embrace of Christianity and black churches. Ruth believes that no matter anyone's race, hard work determines your worth. She believes that God loves all races equally, and that goodness and devotion, not a certain race or class, make people worthy of God's grace.

Chapters 7-9

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