During the time of a town's massive dilemma, comes controversy. Almost everyone is pushed to a breaking point, either in a physical or emotional way. Consequently, the town of Tamassee suffers losses of their own people. The town eventually comes together as a whole to recollect and accept the power of the river, and how it holds their town together. By all means, controversy in the midst of a very difficult situation is not a thing to shame, but it should uplift and bring everyone together as a whole. Bereavement is often a thing that brings people together. In this novel, Ron Rash shows that loss brings people together and motivates them to help rebuild their community and personal relationships.
As the story unfolds, more is revealed about Maggie. Maggie is a native of Tamassee, but moved away to pursue her career as a photojournalist, or so she says. She and her father have not ever had the picture perfect father-daughter relationship. When her brother had his accident, at first Maggie blamed herself. Later on she came to put the blame on her father for leaving them unattended. As time pass with the Kowalsky situation something clicks in Maggie. She realizes her father does not have much time left to live. His cancer is taking over him and it motivates her to try and make at least some right with him before he passes. She began helping out more and taking care of him. “I would like to say my father and I reconciled in these last months… When that happened it was easy enough to believe nothing had really changed between us.” (Maggie 234). Eventually, her father’s cancer got the best of him and he lost his battle. Although she and her father never fully got the relationship they both really longed for, their flaws and goodness brought them closer to that longing relationship. Subsequently, the characters flaws and strengths are brought out. One particular character that these traits are shown in, is Maggie. In the start of the novel, Maggie reflects on her decision that she makes about going back to Tamassee. It is almost as if she is being selfish and weighs the pros and cons of returning to her hometown. After she arrives back in her hometown and sees all the chaos that happening, she takes a few steps back and realizes the people of her town are in a state of consternation. Maggie …show more content…
I can’t think of a place I’d rather her body be than in the Tamassee. I’d want her where she’d be part of something pure and good and unchanging, the closest thing to Eden we’ve got left” (Luke 53). The Tamassee river is thought of as a safe place and sanctuary for the natives of Tamassee. Throughout Saints at the River, the river is portrayed as a character. The river is accommodated with both religious and nonreligious allusions. An example of a biblical allusion would be the dogwood flowers that float down the river. Dogwood flowers represent rebirth and resurrection. This comes hand and hand with what Ron Rash was trying to make understood with the deaths that occurred in the Tamassee. The bodies of Ruth and Randy were at peace in the river. The townsfolk finally came to the realization of this when the dynamite was put into the river, and Ruth and Randy’s bodies rose from the pools and went down the
As the story unfolds, more is revealed about Maggie. Maggie is a native of Tamassee, but moved away to pursue her career as a photojournalist, or so she says. She and her father have not ever had the picture perfect father-daughter relationship. When her brother had his accident, at first Maggie blamed herself. Later on she came to put the blame on her father for leaving them unattended. As time pass with the Kowalsky situation something clicks in Maggie. She realizes her father does not have much time left to live. His cancer is taking over him and it motivates her to try and make at least some right with him before he passes. She began helping out more and taking care of him. “I would like to say my father and I reconciled in these last months… When that happened it was easy enough to believe nothing had really changed between us.” (Maggie 234). Eventually, her father’s cancer got the best of him and he lost his battle. Although she and her father never fully got the relationship they both really longed for, their flaws and goodness brought them closer to that longing relationship. Subsequently, the characters flaws and strengths are brought out. One particular character that these traits are shown in, is Maggie. In the start of the novel, Maggie reflects on her decision that she makes about going back to Tamassee. It is almost as if she is being selfish and weighs the pros and cons of returning to her hometown. After she arrives back in her hometown and sees all the chaos that happening, she takes a few steps back and realizes the people of her town are in a state of consternation. Maggie …show more content…
I can’t think of a place I’d rather her body be than in the Tamassee. I’d want her where she’d be part of something pure and good and unchanging, the closest thing to Eden we’ve got left” (Luke 53). The Tamassee river is thought of as a safe place and sanctuary for the natives of Tamassee. Throughout Saints at the River, the river is portrayed as a character. The river is accommodated with both religious and nonreligious allusions. An example of a biblical allusion would be the dogwood flowers that float down the river. Dogwood flowers represent rebirth and resurrection. This comes hand and hand with what Ron Rash was trying to make understood with the deaths that occurred in the Tamassee. The bodies of Ruth and Randy were at peace in the river. The townsfolk finally came to the realization of this when the dynamite was put into the river, and Ruth and Randy’s bodies rose from the pools and went down the