The book was more explicit in depicting Katie's favoring of her son over her older daughter. When Neeley was born, the novel states that Katie actually felt a
degree of contempt towards Francie, and it even has Katie admitting to herself that she loves her son more than her daughter. Katie also seems somewhat jealous of Francie's
adoration of her father--not just because Katie's own father was mean and unloving towards her, but also because she used to feel the same way towards Johnny, but
things have gone sour over the years. She seems to have a certain resentment of Francie's relationship with Johnny, and she doesn't like the way Johnny is able to appreciate Francie's love of school and beauty and the more romantic things in life. She tells Francie that her rationale for making her leave school is because if Neeley
left, he would never go back. Part of this reasoning is that it was typical of the era for girls to give up education since they would just get married and have children anyway, while boys were much more likely to continue their education.
But Neeley didn't seem like the studious type, and could have much more easily found a good-paying working-class job back then, being a boy. Katie's decision to
pull Francie out of school instead seemed to have a certain amount of meanness
to it, almost as if she were punishing Francie for having such a loving relationship with her father, while Katie could never be that close with her daughter.
I'm not crying, you fool, I'm laughing!
Hewwo.
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moosish-628-965954
9 years ago
Thanks for answering my question. I hadn't read the book in several decades (I should reread it, I think), and didn't remember Katie's general attitude of resentment towards Francie. So maybe my daughter was right after all -- Francie should've been allowed to stay in school, while Neeley found work. It does fit. Thanks!
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