OK, we are doing things a bit different with the blogs this week. I've asked students from my first and third period classes to come up with blog topics for the rest of us to respond to. It was tough to chose just three, but here is what I came up with.
Zach Vanaman in third period brought up some interesting questions regarding Pauline. While Annie, Lecon and Clara are discussing what do to about the pregnancy, Pauline and Ida are listening in the next room. Ida describes her emotions:
In my mind I imagined their eyes staring at our closed door, calling me to save them. I turned back the covers, shook off the hand Pauline grasped around my wrist (310).
This is a kind of touching moment between these two sisters. So Zach wants to know, do you think Ida is obligated to take Clara’s child? And why was Ida picked over Pauline? If you were Pauline, would you have let Ida go into that room alone, knowing what was happening? What do you think Pauline could have said or done differently to possibly change the outcome of Ida’s “burden?”
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No Ida was not obligated at all to take Clara's child. Clara is the whole screwed up and she did not have to drag Ida down with her. The reason Clara picked Ida over Pauline was because she knew how in love Ida was with her and she knew she could get Ida to do it for her. Clara used Ida to her advantages. I really don't think there was anything Pauline could have done to stop Ida. She could have held on to Ida's wrist tighter or tried to talk Ida out of it for hours but nothing was going to change Ida's mind. Ida wanted to be there for Clara even if that ment taking on a baby.
ReplyDeleteNo. I do not believe that Ida was obligated to take Clara's child. It wasn't fair that her family wanted her to ruin her life, just so they wont look bad. I believe that Ida was picked over Pauline because they saw how much Ida idolized Clara. If I was Pauline I would not have let Ida go in by herself. I would have went in with her to argue back and say that wasn't fair. I think Pauline could have said that it wasn't right to put that mush responsibility on a 17 year old. Also, she could have said that the grown-up weren't acting GROWN-UP.
ReplyDeletei dont think that Pauline could have done anything different. Ida made her choice and the most she could do is try to talk her out of it. Ida was picked over Pauline because if you remeber form the text, Pauline was always helping the nuns. She was always praying with the patchwork roseary. she was very religous and I guess it was more believeable that Ida would become pregnaunt than Pauline.
ReplyDeleteI think its sad that Ida was chosen to take care of christine because she was so young.. and that is a lot of responsibility. However the fact that she was so young is the reason she was picked over Paula. Ida and Clara were only a few years apart from each other. Therefore, Ida being Christine's mom would be more realistic. It is horrible that because of Clara's mistakes it has messed up so many people lives.
ReplyDeleteI think that in Ida's own mind she was obligated to take Clara's child. She always wanted Clara's approval for everything, so why not get her approval on that too? I think that Pauline didnt get chosen to go with Clara was because although Clara is very manipulative, Pauline never fell for it and they were not very close. I also feel that Pauline did try and stop Ida from going into the room and Ida ignored her. so if i were Pauline i think that i would have done the exact same thing, because in the end the decision to take on everything that Clara was asking her was only Ida's choice.
ReplyDeleteI dont think anything that Pauline would have said would have made a difference. It's not like they were consulting her before asking Ida.
I don't think that Ida should have ever taken in the kid. None of the sisters should have. They were too young and look what it did to Ida. I agree with dana, in the fact that Clara's stupid decision has messed up so many lives. This just gets more and more crazy and there are neverending suprises of what is to come next.
ReplyDeletePeriod point blank Clara is nasty she needs to go somewhere eles and not be part of the family. But I dont blame Ida for taking in christine, i wouldve did the same.
ReplyDeleteI don't feel that Ida was obligated to raise Clara's child but Ida wanted to save her family and help out. It's hard to think that her own sister wouldn't have offered to help or even talked Ida through what she was about do to before she committed. Ida was so young that you think Pauline would have wanted to make sure her sister was making the right choice before she went through with it. It's hard thinking that Ida sacrificed her life and the life of her kids for someone's careless mistake. If I was Pauline I would have felt guilty for putting that burden on Ida alone.
ReplyDeleteI don't blieve Ida was obligated in any way to take Clara's child the family knew how much Ida loved Clara so they must have thought that she would be more likly to take the nany than Pauline. if i had been pauline i would have told her to not do what they wanted her to do it isn't her burden to bear. that responisbility lies with Clara and Lecon. they were the ones dumb enough to have have unprotected sex they should deal with the consiquences not ruin Ida's life so that the family isn't embaressed.
ReplyDeleteI think that maybe Pauline could have stepped up if she wanted to, but she realized the complications and responsibilities that come with taking care of a new born child nad how it could have possibly halted whatever career aspirations or dreams for the furture she may have had.
ReplyDeleteI don't neccesarily think she was obligated but i think Ida did the right thing. Chrsitine could've been totally left out in the world by herself as a baby. Even though Ida didn't want to she took care of christine for the most part. She never really was a mother figure, but she was there. Ida wanted to be the mother but did't quite want to show it i think.
ReplyDeleteI don't think Ida is obligated to take Clara's child at all. It was not her decision to have her father have an affair. However I think Christines life did possibly turn out better because Ida decided to take her. If I were Pauline I would let her make her own decsion. She knows what was going to happen and she was ready to take that situation into her own hands. I think Ida was picked over Pauline because of her personality. She seems more prepared to raise a child.
ReplyDeleteI think that the reason Ida was chosen over Paulina is because of how young she was. But she left the room knowing that there were going to be some hard tasks that would befall Ida but she was brave enough to go in there alone and i dont think Paulina had a say of why Ida had got to take the child over her.
ReplyDeleteIda was not obligated to take the baby, but she probably felt like she had to because she was so in love with Clara. I believe that's why Ida was chosen over Pauline, because Clara knew that Ida couldn't say no to her. Pauline should have tried to persuade Ida to say no, I don't know if it would have helped much but she could have at least tried to stop her from agreeing to that ridiculous plan.
ReplyDeleteI do think that it's interesting how Pauline didn't try to talk to Ida about what she was about to do. Ida was so young and she had her entire life to do whatever she wanted, but after agreeing to take care of Christine I don't think she realized how much of a life changer that would be. I wish we could find out what Pauline was thinking in this situation. Then, maybe, we'd understand why she let Ida take on that responsibility.
ReplyDeleteI don't think Pauline would have changed Idas mind.Ida idolized Clara so much that I don't think anything Pauline would have said would have any effect on her. I personally would have still tried to talk Ida out of it and make Clara clean up her own mess and deal with her consequences. I would like to see what Paulines view was on the whole situation and why she never stopped her sister from ruining her youth.
ReplyDeleteno ida was in no way obligated to take paulines child. ida was chosen because she was basically in love with clara like many have already said. pauline should have went in with ida and fought back saying its to much responsibility and pressure for a 17 year old to have a baby, and that they should live up to there mistakes and not let an innocent individual take full responsibility for something they did not do.
ReplyDeleteIda was not obligated to take Clara's child, and why she was picked over Pauline we may never find out. The reasoning as to why i think Ida was chosen over Pauline is because Ida admired Clara to a huge extent. Pauline could've gone into the room with her and stood up for her sister, but she let Ida go into the room alone. Pauline could've gone into the room with her and fought for the fact that a teenager should not have to carry the responsibilty of having a child when first of the child is not even hers to begin with and Lecon and Clara should live up to their mistake of sleeping with each other and getting pregnant, not putting all of that responsibility on Ida.
ReplyDeleteI don't think Ida was obligated to take the baby. I think that Clara and Lecon had discussed how to play it so that Ida would agree to take the baby.Ida was closer to Clara then Pauline was. If I were Pauline I would have talked my sister out of taking the baby. If I could have I would have offered alternative options to everybody, or taken the baby myself.
ReplyDeletenope. ida has nothing to do with the birth. she is to attached to Clara to turn down the offer. ida is just in the wrong place at the wrong time. since ida took Christine she but Christine through a miserably childhood.
ReplyDeleteI dont think Ida had any reason to feel obligated to take care of Clara and Lecon's child. Ida was asked over Pauline because Clara knew that Ida would say yes and Paulene would say no. Pauline never really looked up to Clara like Ida did. Ida thought she was a beautiful kind woman, and Pauline thought she was minipulitive. If i were Pauline I would have tried to stop Ida from going to the other room but i wouldn't feel like i was responsible for her decision. Ida made her own choice and it probably wasn't the right decision.
ReplyDeleteI think Ida and Clara became really close in the time that Clara stayed there..maybe even more so than with Pauline because i don't believe she told Pauline bout her crush on Willard, so maybe Ida didn't feel obligated to take Clara's child but maybe she felt like Clara was sort of like a sister and that sisters should do stuff for one another in order to protect each other.
ReplyDeletei think that ida was picked over clara because both clara and lecon knew that they could easly manipulate her were as pauline even when she was not subjected to take care of the child she knew that it was not a good idea. i think that is they asked pauline she would have laughted in their face. Also pauline was younger sister so for her to have the kid would have messed up lecon's idea of a prefect family.
ReplyDeleteI believe Ida was chosen over Pauline because of how Ida has idolized Clara. They grew close together and formed a friendship so Ida would care for Clara's child as if she were Clara. And because of their close bond maybe some of Clara's personality rubbed off onto Ida and hopefully the soon to be born baby. Pauline might have been able to say something to stop the "burden" but I think she didn't say anything out of fear. The fear of being put down and not listened to, and the fear of the burden being placed on her instead. I don't think that Pauline felt that she was ready to have a child, and that maybe Ida was better fit to be a mother-especially for Clara's child because Clare and Ida got along so well. We, as well as them, will never know the outcome of the story if Pauline stepped in. Maybe Pauline would have poured out her love onto Christine, more maybe Pauline would have left her alone in some forgein home without leaving a note. We dont know what would happen, all we know is what happened. Would there been a better outcome if Pauline stood up for Ida, or would the outcome have been just the same?
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion Ida chooses Clara over Pauline because she idolizes Clara. Ida sees Pauline just as the little sister that she's not very close to and has different wants. If i was Pauline at the moment when Ida offered I would've done everything in my power to stop Ida from making a horrible mistake. Pauline should have done something, anything to try to stop Ida.
ReplyDeleteI definitely dont think that Ida had any obligation to take Clara's baby. They were trying to avoid shame in the family, but i dont see how a teenager getting pregnant is any more admirable. But, I believe that Ida was picked over Pauline becauseit was obvious how much Ida idolized Clara. If I was Pauline I would not have let Ida go in by herself. I would have fought for her and stood up to the adults, telling them that they were selfish for askind her to do this.I don't understand why Clara just didnt leave and have the baby somewhere by herself. That would have cleared up the situation. I would have tried to find another option than the one they all chose if i was Pauline.
ReplyDeletei dont think that ida was obligated to take care of clara, she just loved her a lot and idolized her a lot more. I feel she was picked over pauline, because she has a lot more experience with kids and she knows a lot more than pauline. I feel like pauline should have fought harder, so ida wouldn't of done it.
ReplyDeleteI feel that Ida was not obligated to take Clara's child, and that Clara, realizing that Ida cared for her so much, used it to her advantage and manipulated her into thinking she had to take her child. I think that if were Pauline, I wouldnt have let Ida go into the room at all. I would have stopped her and made her realize whahe was about to do. I think that Pauline could have either talked some sense into Ida or atleast have gone into the room with her. But other thatn that there wasnt anything Pauline could do. It all came down to Ida and what she had decided.
ReplyDeleteI think that ida was not obligated to take care of clara's baby because she was too young.Clara is very manipulative and knew she could get Ida to do it for her.If i was pauline I wouldn't have let her go in the room. I also feel that whatever pauline had to say wouldn't have made a difference.The decision was Idas and she made it.
ReplyDeleteI agree with JDM14 when they said that the reason why Ida was chosen over Pauline was because Ida lover Clara. Clara knew she would do anything for her. Maybe if Pauline had spoken out against Ida claiming Clara's baby then maybe Ida would have stood up to Clara and her dad. But that might not have worked because Ida and Clara had a stronger connection than Ida and Pauline.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion I think that Ida was a bit pressured into taking care of Christine. Not peer pressured but she looked up to Clara quite a bit and the fact that she took on the burden of Christine shows how dedicated Ida was to please the needs of Clara. If i were Ida i would take care of the child if there were nobody older and more responsible to do it because i would not be financially ok most likely.
ReplyDeleteIda should not had to taken in the baby, being the reason that she was not ready to take in that type of responsibilty. It was Claras way of haveing control over the family and she knew that if any one would take the baby between Pauline and Ida it would be Ida. Ida really liked clara and she just wanted to help her. I just can't believe Ida knew what she was really getting herself into.
ReplyDeletei think that ida was pressured into taking christine, her family didnt care about what it did to her life they were only concered with having the perfect family look from the outside. but in turn ruined idas life.
ReplyDeletei don't think ida was obligated to take care of her at all, i think that she was picked over pauline because she was the most dedicated person, and ida cared for clara alot, which made her the best choice.
ReplyDeleteI feel that Ida was not obligated to take in Claras baby. I think that Clara knew what she wanted to do all along. But Pauline could of been a good sister and told her that she dont need to take in a baby. And that it could ruin her life.
ReplyDeleteI dont think it was fair to pick her to take the child. In a way they took advantage of her in a way because Clara got to be good friends with her. At one point Aunt Ida says Clara would have dont the same thing. To me that seems like Ida had a strong connection with her and thats y they picked Ida over Pauline.
ReplyDeleteAlsi pauline should have warned Ida as to what she was gettting herself into before she took the step and accepted the child
I don't believe that Ida was obligated at all to take care if the child. I think that Ida was the one to take care of the baby because Ida lookd up to Clara and loved their relationship. If I was Pauline I would have either offered to 'help' take care of the baby, or recognized the situation was bad and not let it happen in the first place.
ReplyDelete