The Gilda Stories by
Jewelle Gomez
Chapter 1: Louisiana
1850
Ø Number
of scenes
Ø White
spaces indicate beginning of scene
Ø Each
scene what is the setting, time and place
Ø Identify
minor characters id one or two things
Ø
Summary for each scene
1st Scene
Pages 9-18
Characters
-
Girl
(major)
-
Gilda
(major)
-
Girl’s
mother*
She is seen as a minor
character because the Girl recalls events in her life that involved her mother.
Those events help the Girl find courage.
Example page 13 2nd paragraph
-
Man that
rapped girl
-
Macey
Setting
-Farmhouse
-
Woodard Brothel
Summary:
The Girl, whom
is nameless in the whole chapter and referred to as the Girl, is remembering
things about her and her mother, as a white man is raping her. Somehow as he is
about to enter her she stabs him with a wood-handled knife. Gilda then found
the girl in the root cellar of her farmhouse outside of New Orleans. She woke
up the girl and told her she didn’t need to feel afraid and she was going to
help her. Gild then took the girl to her Woodard, a brothel she owned and
managed, giving her a bath and clothes. Macey then entered the room with a tray
of food for the Girl and was intrigued to find out about her but did not ask or
spoke. In page 16, we see how the Gilda is able to read the girl’s mind and
says to her she is not a man as the girl had thought. After the girl finished
eating Gilda told her what she was to respond when someone asked her where she
came from. Not wanting to know of the Girl’s past she continued to tell her
sister in Mississippi sent her. Leaving the Girl little to think of her all she
could understand was that Gilda was able to read her mind as well as she was.
Gilda felt good of her decision of bringing the girl in, she was able to
remember some parts of her past and felt good about looking forward into the
future of the Girl and Bird.
2nd Scene
pages 18-24
Characters
-
Girl
-
Bird
-
Gilda
-
Fanny*
-
Rachel*
Fanny
and Rachel are both minor characters in this scene they are perhaps the most
opiniated of the all. The girl found herself being intruiged by wanting to know
what they said since they would always argue and have things to say. Both
characters in my opinion could be seen as feminist since they would talk of
politics men and other things most women at that time didn’t and the Girl found
interesting.
Setting
-
A
couple of months later
-
Woodard
Summary:
After living a
few months in Woodard, the Girl barely spoke and was really shy but still
managed to do her house chores. During that time the Girl was surprised the
other women in the house were. She thought they embodied innocence of children
yet they would talk about things she only heard the men speak of such as
politics and economics. Also during that time Bird was teaching her how to read
and write. Bird and the Girl were able to get close during this time Bid would
talk about her childhood and even telling the Girl about her family and how
they began to think she was a witch after she overcame the miliar infections.
Bird was able to see since the Girl’s arrival her and Gilda were happy. Gilda
on the other hand was starting to want the Girl to be one of them she was tired
of living and thought the Girl was the perfect person to replace her and to
accompany Bird.
3rd Scene
pages 24- 34
Characters
-
Girl
-
Gilda
-
Bird
-
Minta
-
Man
at Minta’s birthday
This
man was trying to have sex with the girl. I would say he was trying to take
advantage of her because she was naïve. He thought she was just another worker
and when she told him she wasn’t he resumed to tell her and Gilda she was
missing out on not having the girl work for her in that way. The man made the
girl feel shaken which brought Gilda to sense the Girl was in trouble and seek
out to help her.
-
Bernice
Was
the cook of the house. She was able to speak in a blunt manner and tell people
how she saw things. The Girl was able to understand the way she felt after
talking to Bernice and see she should not care of what others see of her. She
should go on about her business.
Setting
-
Woodard’s
Minta’s birthday party
Summary.
Living in Woodard for 2 years the Girl looked
at it as home. She had become close with Bird and was starting to become a
young lady. The girl enjoyed working in the garden and studying with Bird when
not doing chores. On the night of
Minta’s 20th birthday everyone was happy for the party. The Girl
recalls how she had decided she would also learn French and although she barely
knew how to write English she thought it would be best she learned both. The
Girl found herself being in some sort of a dilemma when she was out with Bird.
She was in a way fearful of the women she would see while out shopping with
Bird. Those women made the Girl feel shameful as she told Bernice, the cook.
Bernice went on to tell the Girl she was ashamed of them not of herself and
should continue with her life because she wasn’t the problem it was them. A man
that went to the party was starting to make the girl have sex with him. The
Girl seemed scared and Gilda with sensed she was in trouble and went over to
help the Girl. It was the first time we saw Gilda reflect on her vampire life
and how she had only killed once. Recalling how she took blood from the man
sleeping in the bunkhouse fully clothed.
4th Scene
pages 34- 36
Characters
-
Girl
-
Bernice
-
Minta
Was
full of aspirations for herself as Rachel. She knew she didn’t want to be at
Woodard for the rest of her life. This was the first time in the whole chapter
we saw her view on things. She wanted to move to California with Rachel and not
be seen as a mistress.
Setting
-
The
garden in Woodard
Summary:
During a fall
afternoon as the girl worked in the garden she was accompanied by Minta. Minta
told the girl about her thoughts of going with Rachel who had moved to
California. Minta asked the Girl about her moving with them so they could all
start and open a business. The Girl told Minta how she could not see herself
leaving the house. Minta in response told the Girl to be careful because people
believed in spirits and other things such like Miss Gilda. Minta then ran
upstairs and Bernice questioned the girl of their conversation also telling the
Girl Gilda and Bird were different. Bernice told the girl even after she had
been there for years she was still not sure who they really were and was
concerned how the Girl would be on her own.
5th scene pages 36-
Characters
-
Girl
-
Bird
-
Gilda
Setting
- Barn-house
Summary
This is perhaps the most important
scene in the chapter in this scene the girl goes to the barn-house along with
Gilda and Bird. We are able to see how Gila and Bird interact with each other as
well as how they are with the Girl. One day as Bird prepares to go Woodard the
Girl jokes about telling Minta Hello and to not leave without her. The comment
made by the Girl did not suit Bird since she knew Gilda was thinking of making
the Girl one of them. The Girl then affirmed to Bird she was teasing and her
comment was not true. Gilda later on that evening came down to join the Girl.
She then left leaving the Girl alone saying they will continue to talk when she
returned. When she returned they started to talk the Girl reassured her she had
never thought of leaving. Gilda then told her a war had begun and that she was
afraid of living too long and her it was time for her to end. The Girl was
confused but did not seem shaken about Gilda’s remarks. Gilda then told her she
would have to tell Bird to complete the circle and it will be Bird who will
make the Girl their daughter. When Bird returned the Girl told her as she was
instructed to do so. Bird was puzzled and realized Gilda needed Bird step away
in order to end her long life with peace. When full daylight came Bird returned
the blood to complete the process and then held the Girl and rested. The girl
asked if Gilda was gone and Bird told her she wanted the girl to now be called
Gilda. The Girl then continued to tell Bird how much Gilda loved and her and
she did this for both of them. She did not want to leave her alone and thought
this was the best way to do so.
No comments:
Post a Comment