Essay Questions

Why did Louise prefer to live far away from home during her adult life?

While growing up, Louise had a difficult time dealing with her clandestine parents. Louise discovered that her parents did not love her as much as they loved her brother, Mark. In addition, Louis was forced to work hard for everything she needed, while her brother received anything he wanted with little effort. Therefore, when Louise grew up, she decided to live far away from home and settled in San Francisco, which is very far from her hometown, Charleston.

Why is Louise compelled to return to her hometown Charleston?

After settling down with her daughter in San Francisco, Louise did not plan to return. However, when her parents died, Louise was requested by her deadbeat brother to return home and help with the funeral arrangements and the sale of their parents' house.

How paradoxical is the character, Mark?

Mark is Louise's only brother, and when their parents die, he requests Louise to return home and help sell the house and share other assets left behind by their parents. However, after the funeral, Mark becomes greedy and inherits everything except his mother's dolls, which he hands to Louise. Therefore, despite requesting Louise to come all the way from San Francisco, Mark denies Louise an opportunity to inherit part of her parents' inheritance.