Genre
Domestic Realism
Setting and Context
Set in Zebulon County, Iowa in the late 20th century.
Narrator and Point of View
Narrator: Ginny Cook
Point of View: First-person
Tone and Mood
Bitter, Tragic, Distressing, Doleful
Protagonist and Antagonist
The protagonist is Ginny Cook and the antagonist are the domineering men in the sisters' lives particularly their father Larry Cook. However, each of the main characters is at some point an antagonist including Ginny.
Major Conflict
When the time comes for Larry Cook to pass down his inheritance to the three daughters his choice initiates family conflict and tragic revelations. The patriarch’s behavior becomes more erratic as his distrust shifts from the younger daughter to the eldest ones. The legal battle that follows discloses family secrets that involve sexual abuse, infidelity, and mismanagement of the farm.
Climax
The climax reaches when the court rules in favor of two elder sisters and Ty as they get to keep the farm.
Foreshadowing
The initial decision to cut off Caroline the youngest sister from the inheritance foreshadows the conflict within the family that later arises.
Understatement
N/A
Allusions
The narrative alludes to the plotline and conflict in Shakespeare’s King Lear which entails the aging king’s plans to bequeath his kingdom to the daughters.
Imagery
“The lilacs were over with, but I'd cut the grass around the house that morning, and the sweet fragrance of chamomile floated on top of the sharper scent of the wet tomato vines I'd watered before dinner. There weren't any lightning bugs, yet, but I could see one or two cabbage moths pale and dim against the dark greenery around the porch.”
Paradox
N/A
Parallelism
The characters in the novel parallel their Shakespearian counterparts in the play King Lear.
Metonymy and Synecdoche
“…both of them streaked with red Popsicle drippings”
Personification
“The swing chains rattled and twisted against one another.”
