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A Death in the Family

Questions About A Death in the Family

by James Agee

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Answered Questions (5)

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Jeff Yes. He desperately needed a drink because life at home was so dull it was eating him alive. I could relate, having to endure reading it.
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Denise Definitely I continued reading it - the descriptions of the relationships are excellent and I certainly appreciated that part of his writings and, as …moreDefinitely I continued reading it - the descriptions of the relationships are excellent and I certainly appreciated that part of his writings and, as you point out, particularly the world from the point of view of a 6 year-old. Like I noted, what becomes "heavy" with James Agee is when he wanders into disclosing all that is going on in his mind - all the phylosophizing that doesn't really add (in my opinion) to the his "story".(less)
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I am studying the craft of novel writing. A core precept is to have one POV at a time. I am reading this and while I like it, I notice that he head-hops a lot in some parts. Likely I notice this more because I read with the lessons of novel writing echoing in my head. Anyway, your thoughts? Was this intentional, something he would have culled before publishing, or something that was more common then? Just curious.
Mary Camille Thomas I suspect Agee knew exactly what he was doing, and the title hints at this. It's not The Death of a Husband or The Death of a Father, it's A Death in …moreI suspect Agee knew exactly what he was doing, and the title hints at this. It's not The Death of a Husband or The Death of a Father, it's A Death in the Family, and he does a masterful job of showing how that death affects several different people in the family.(less)
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there were maybe two little indications that Mary was pregnant. The story did not extrapolate. If I remember right, they were going to take the little boy to relatives while Mary had her baby? at one point, they mentioned about her not being able to bend down.... did I miss something about her pregnancy? they never mentioned it while the whole grieving process was taking place.
tom when the editors were preparing this book after james agee's death there were a number of passages that did not seem to fit clearly with the rest of t…morewhen the editors were preparing this book after james agee's death there were a number of passages that did not seem to fit clearly with the rest of the text. they chose to add these non-chronological passages at the ends of parts I and II, and italicised them to differentiate them. the section you are referring to takes place in the past relative to the rest of the novel so mary is pregnant with rufus' younger sister catherine.(less)
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Jerilyn The little boy is thinking to himself, realizing that his uncle, who doesn't believe in God, seems to hate people who do believe in God. He is trying …moreThe little boy is thinking to himself, realizing that his uncle, who doesn't believe in God, seems to hate people who do believe in God. He is trying to work it out. The uncle obviously hates the priest for the way he treated the grieving widow, but don't we all feel that way? The boy is a little reassured that it must be okay to feel this way, since it was also his own reaction, even though he couldn't understand a word that was said behind closed doors. Then the boy thinks it goes deeper. His uncle doubts his own doubting faith, wonders if there is a God, if there is life after death, but he sees the uncle even rejecting these thoughts. People often hate what they fear, and many fear and reject religious faith in this way. It then manifests itself in hate for those who do believe. This uncle loves his mother, but his mother believes fervently, perhaps blindly, in ways that deepen her own pain and grief, adding the weight of guilt and regret. This angers her brother, the boy's uncle. It's really too bad he isn't a true believer who can comfort her with words of love and mercy from Jesus who came to save, to lift all burdens, to bring light in darkness. Of course, that should be the role of the priest; instead his rigidity and lack of compassion bring scandal, repelling doubters instead of drawing them to Christ. None of this is comprehensible to this very young child. Most of it is incomprehensible to many adults.(less)
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