As Saranell grew up, Geneva continuously neglected her, causing Saranell to feel unwanted and not cared for. In the midst of a blizzard, Saranell drifted to her mother for warmth and protection. When she arrived to her mother, Geneva immediately disregarded Saranell's needs. "'Go into the parlor,' Geneva ordered from Fanny Culver's four poster bed as soon as Saranell appeared. 'The servants have saved some cornbread for you.' She turned toward the wall and coughed. 'And shut that door so what warmth there is won't escape'" (Carr 106). Saranell went to her mother as an instinct, longing to be acknowledged and cared for. Geneva was too busy fretting about herself, that she sent Saranell away, expecting someone else to take over her parental role. Saranell continually
…show more content…
Since Geneva's death, Saranell had been storing her anguish inside, until she finally burst. Renny was there to comfort her with words, along with an arm around her shoulders. "'You lucky to know your mama be all right now. You know how she go away and where she at. But some ain't never sure, and that keep the whole thing sore open" (Carr 155). Saranell finally had the relief of her mother's physical absence rather than emotional absence. Although it was a sorrowful occasion, she could finally let go and be comforted that her mom is okay now. In the article Legal Isssues in Child Abuse and Neglect Practice, by Martha Erickson and Byron Egeland, it states, "Although the bruises and scars of physical abuse are more readily apparent, the quiet assault of child neglect often does at least as much damage to its young victims" (Egeland, Erickson). Saranell could have been abused physically, but instead she's abused emotionally, by parental abandonment. Since the neglect of Saranell had such a deep impact on her life, the death of her mother was almost a
Since Geneva's death, Saranell had been storing her anguish inside, until she finally burst. Renny was there to comfort her with words, along with an arm around her shoulders. "'You lucky to know your mama be all right now. You know how she go away and where she at. But some ain't never sure, and that keep the whole thing sore open" (Carr 155). Saranell finally had the relief of her mother's physical absence rather than emotional absence. Although it was a sorrowful occasion, she could finally let go and be comforted that her mom is okay now. In the article Legal Isssues in Child Abuse and Neglect Practice, by Martha Erickson and Byron Egeland, it states, "Although the bruises and scars of physical abuse are more readily apparent, the quiet assault of child neglect often does at least as much damage to its young victims" (Egeland, Erickson). Saranell could have been abused physically, but instead she's abused emotionally, by parental abandonment. Since the neglect of Saranell had such a deep impact on her life, the death of her mother was almost a