Kathy James
asked:
Why did Chase wear the shell necklace; certainly why did his wife put up with it?
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Where the Crawdads Sing,
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Stephanie
Good question, I am also wondering why we didn't hear from her at all during the trial or after the murder at all. She wasn't interviewed or anything.
Laura
I think he loved her, though reading another's response I can see that the asshole side of him may have worn it like a notch on the belt - the only one to bed the marsh girl - but I think his hiding of the book she made shows he loved her.
The wife was my primary suspect due to this.
The wife was my primary suspect due to this.
Janet
It's a complete hole in the plot. The wife does not appear anywhere in the story, which is unbelievable. Whole book is unbelievable.
Julier
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Jeano
Thinking of her character, I imagined her as the “lucky girl” to marry the town catch. She had to put up with quite a lot in her marriage such as, all of the affairs and carousing mentioned. I thought she must’ve resigned herself to her fate, and dealing with a necklace probably seemed minor. Not to mention, Chase was a first class A-hole. He did what he wanted.
Jennifergeorge
I was always intrigued by the reasons why Chase chose to wear the shell necklace gifted by Kya all the time. I can’t shake off the feeling that there’s part of him, deeply buried, that genuinely cared for Kya and was touched by the gift. The small moments, when he played harmonica, are glimpses of “when he had a soul” as Kya put it, and these were the parts of him that maybe Kya brought out and that was partially why he was also caught up with her. I don’t know, I think there’s more depth to him… Almost like Kya’s dad, in those moments in the novel where he was decent and not a complete monster. What do you think about Chase and his true feelings for Kya? Don’t get me wrong, he is despicable, and his behavior and actions towards her were unforgivable, but I think buried deep in all that, there was a small potential to be a good person.
Rebekah
I think it showed he probably did love her, as much as he was capable of.
Lynn
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Elizabeth
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Dawn
I believe it was to show possession. That was why the importance of it being removed. It’s a BDSM thing. Usually a woman is wearing a choker/necklace to show possession and to whom.
Kimberly
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Jean
The necklace to show possession is a good thought, but he also kept the journal Kya made him (is that what they called it)? Why would he keep that? Other than the author thinks hmm... we need some evidence of their relationship that can be shown in court. ;-) But I think keeping both items must mean that he has some sort of love for her, and that honestly is what kills the book for me. Guys like this don't love. He would have dropped her like a hot potato and gone on to the next challenge. His actions toward her -- where he keeps coming back after he got what he wanted -- they just don't make any sense. Kya attracts two men who both in their way have a life long devotion to her. I just can't buy that.
Kam
I think he dreamed of being able to be as free as Kya by being in The Marsh. I think wearing the necklace gave him a little connection to the "what if". I think his wife put up with it for multiple reasons. Shame, everyone in The Village are ashamed of "The Marsh Girl" and calling him out for the necklace would also be acknowledging his connection to her. Additionally, given the time period and soceital norms of their status I think it would have been common practice to not overly question your husband on such things.
Ana D
I think he saw Kya as some sort of a trophy. Tate mentions once that boys are competing who will be the first one to sleep with Kya, so I suppose wearing the shell necklace felt like some confirmation for Chase that he was the one. Kinda sick though, I was feeling bad for both Kya and Pearl.
Alexis (Lexi) Dutko
Well, all along I thought perhaps he had loved Kya and that his mom had forced him to marry this other woman and that’s why he wore the necklace. (Although I didn’t think he loved her correctly as much as he was able to) I thought he was trying to leave the wife and the mom found out and killed him. obviously as the story progressed my view of that changed. But I think it would have been a good plot twist too.
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