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Unburnable By Marie-Elena John Character Analysis

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A quest narrative tells the journey of an individual on a mission, often with both physical and psychological obstacles. With each step closer to completing the mission, more of the past, that was once disclosed, is revealed and the individual grows as a person. In Marie-Elena John’s novel, Unburnable, Lillian searches for answers to her troubled past and misfortunate family. Her journey back home, to the place she left with scars, unravels the truth about her family’s past, allowing her to heal while gaining a better understanding of why things turned out the way they did. Lillian’s quest to seek the truth about her grandmother’s trial reveals the history of untameable, bold women in her bloodline, inspiring her to have faith in herself and …show more content…

As a child, Lillian constantly searched for approval from Icilma, her stepmother. She was isolated at school and her father was never around, making Icilma the only person she’s close to. Lillian’s search for validation from her stepmother became so great that when she sang ‘Bottle of Coke’ and received a “not reacting… unimpressed [look]”, she “sang louder, harder, with feeling” and added a dance to try and impress her (John, 112). Lillian’s attention is so focused on impressing her stepmother that she failed to notice her stepmother’s burning hand that sent up smoke until someone came to intervene. Her desire to impress her stepmother developed from being neglected as a child. The fact that she is the offspring of Icilma’s love and husband, Winston, and the village prostitute, Iris, is the reason why Icilma may never fully accept Lillian. It was not until later when Lillian discovered who her birth mother was did she realize why she could never get Icilma’s approval. In addition to discovering her birth mother, Lillian also discovers the disturbing history of her family, which made the other children afraid of her. Myrtle reveals to Lillian that Matilda is her “’murdering Obeahwoman grandmother’” as well as the reason why she has never heard songs such as ‘Matilda Swinging’ (John, 229). The surprising news that Matilda is her grandmother will lead to the discovery that she is adopted and that her real mother is Iris. The emotional weight of realizing everything you were told was a lie strains Lillian and Icilma’s relationship further. Lillian’s grandmother confesses to murder and is accused of being a moral-less, obeah woman. In addition, her mother had an affair and pulled a scandalous stunt after John Baptiste broke his promise to marry her. Matilda and Iris were labelled as women gone mad, making Lillian question her

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