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The Invention Of Wings By Sue Monk Kidd: An Analysis

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The Invention of Wings, by Sue Monk Kidd, is a fictional historical novel, which takes place in early nineteenth century Charleston about two girls who grow up recognizing that they are different from each other in some ways but also the same. Sarah Grimké is the daughter of a wealthy family and Hetty Grimké, also known as Handful, is a slave owed by the Grimké family. Both Sarah and Handful have restrictions of freedom, in very different ways, because of the society they live in. They both look for freedom in a world dominated by males through religion and determination. In the Invention of Wings written by Sue Monk Kidd, she demonstrates a first-person point of view from the two main characters of their beliefs as the story progresses.
Sarah and Handful’s story is told, in alternating chapters, by Sue Monk Kidd through first person narrative. As the girls grow up they see just how the inequalities within their worlds make them the same in that they are both imprisoned by rules set forth by men. At a young age Sarah is determined to become a lawyer like her father and her brother Thomas. In private Thomas encourages her to become a lawyer by reminding her of something her father said, “You should be the lawyer. Father said you would be the greatest in South Carolina, do you remember?” (47). She was later reminded that it was a man’s world when she gave a toast to Thomas at his farewell party. She mentioned she wanted to follow in his footsteps and become a …show more content…

At the Episcopal church Sarah attends as a young girl they feel that God and religion wanted people to own slaves. Sarah receives Handful as a gift for her eleventh birthday. She doesn’t like the idea of owning slaves and goes against her parent’s religion and society when she tries to set Handful free. As she listens to the Reverend at her family’s church she feels confused and tries to understand what she should

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