Sex Ed - Bitterblue

Trent Westwood

                  I have only read the first 200 pages of the novel but should be finished within a week as I’m just finishing midterms and will have more free time soon!.

BitterBlue

Thesis #1

                  The novel “Bitterblue”, by Kristen Cashore, brings light to the manipulative tendencies of our parents, specifically focusing on the embedment of ideologies in childhood and the clash these inevitable false truths brings about the reoccurring theme of rebellion in youth adolescence. Bitterblue, the main protagonist in “Bitterblue”, is introduced originally in the novel “Graceling” as a young child on the verge of adolescence.  The two protagonists of “Gracling”, Katsa and Po, rescue Bitterblue when she and her mother attempt to escape the murderous Leck, Bitterblue’s father.  Bitterblue comes to know her father, Leck, as a manipulative socio-path with the ability to convince any individual of any thing.  Leck is abusive with this power and cruelly runs the imaginary kingdom Monsea.   The end of “Gracling” resolves with his demise, once dead it becomes clear to those he influenced that he tortured animals, murdered innocent, and much more that is only revealed in the novel Bitterblue.  The death of marks a significant moment in Bitterblue’s life, clearly, because with her mother also having been murdered by Leck Bitterblue becomes queen.  This sets up the novel “Bitterblue”, in which, it begins 8 years later with Bitterblue at the end of adolescence age 18.  Bitterblue struggles to be queen, the task requires an enormous understanding of the world and an infinite amount of time.  Her struggle is furthered when she refers to memories for advice and guidance because her education was heavily dictated, and although she comes to know this truth she can’t help but be emotionally connected to the memories of her socio-pathic father, and so she rebels to find and replace this knowledge/these memories with her own experiences and worldly truths.

                  Bitterblue discovers that her education was falsely influenced by her father, which, due to the specific delivery of these falsehood….

THIS IS WHAT I THINK I’m WRITING ABOUT.  SUMMERY. STRUCTURE OF MY ESSAY

·       Control over education and exposure

·       Unavoidable Emotional influence

·       Confliction and escape, coming to know other truths.

Possible Useful Quotes

“Grella’s Harrowing Journey to the Source of the River XXXXXX… Leck forced you to cross out the word Dell throughout?” and to this Death, the librarian, states “No, Lady Queen.  He forced me to cross out the word Silver.” (179)

“She could only absorb it in small portions.  It gave her nightmares, such that she stopped reading it in bed or keeping it at her bedside…” (171)

“Your father directed your studies for the most part, Lady Queen.  He presented you with books of every kind.” (169)

“He had a perverted sense of humor,” (146)

“Bitterblue didn’t hear him… every time she sat with him, wanting to show off how well she read, hoping to please him.” (144)

Thesis #2

                  The novel Bitterblue, by Kristen Cashore, invokes ever so discretely the prescence of sexuality within adolescences, attempting to allude to the reader, specifically adolescence, an educational opportunity.  Bitterblue is an example of a female character that experiences sex from a variety of perspectives as to relate to a variety of youth readers.  The first sexual theme delivered to the reader is the theme of rape both by a family member and by an acquaintance.  Insert quote (Can’t find it but I will) “Something about her father kissing her head, her ear, then her neck.”   Further more insert quote “Something about her father saying he needs alone time with his daughter.”  Lastly Lord Danzhol’s sexual assault on Bitterblue cause’s emotional damage “She remembered every part of her body Danzhol had touched.” (149).  The second theme of sexuality mentioned within the novel is Bitterblue’s insecurity “Is an eggplant ever pretty” (149).  And although she feels this way it is apparent that Bitterblue is too strong to dwell on insignificant matters, which instills itself within the readers.  The third theme of sexuality presented is curiosity and the natural obsession to know about sex “Of course they know the way to do it.  She had an imagination, and she wasn’t shy of her own body; she made discoveries.”  In addition to this remark, there are instances in which Bitterblue feels “hot” or “flushed” and in which she cannot stop thinking about Sapphire.  The last sexual theme is of sexual orientation; Bitterblue lives with the mentality that sexuality is unknown and that one should wonder rather than assume an individual’s preference.  “Can’t find quote, something about wondering if Giddon prefers the bed of woman or men.”  Additionally Kristen Cashore includes the gay couple Raf and Bann, of whom the reader sees kissing of sorts “Insert quote.”

Theme: Rape

“She remembered every part of her body Danzhol had touched.” (149)

Theme: Insecurity

“I do not suit this dazzling room, she thought.  My eyes are big and dull.  My hair is heavy and my chin pointy.  I’m so small that my husband won’t be able to find me in the bed.  And when he does, he’ll discover that my breasts are uneven and I’m shaped like an eggplant.” (149)

“Is an eggplant every pretty?” (149)

Theme: Masturbation/Raising questions of intercourse

“Of course they know the right way to do it.  She had an imagination, and she wasn’t shy of her own body; she’d made discoveries.” (149)

 “But understanding want and understanding mechanics did not go far toward elucidating how you could invite someone else to see you, to tough you in that way.” (149)

“She understood something suddenly, not with her mind, but in the air that touched her throat and made her shiver when she looked up into his bruised face.” (147)

POSSIBLE STRUCTURE

·       Introduction, these: Kristen Cashore aims to educate her audience on sexuality in her novel "Bitterblue”.  Maybe reference birth control from “Graceling?”

·       Rape

·       Insecurity by adolescences of their body.

·       Curiosity, the drive to understand and the drive to want physical connection.  The mention of masturbation.

·       Sexual orientation.  Raf and Bann’s partnership.

Thesis #3

Conbined 1&2 but focus less on 1 and moreso just mention the educational control of education by parents