Patsy & Barrington - Question 3

[SGS]

How does Patsy's encounter with Barrington, and his suicide after telling her to "forgive herself," impact the story?

[Robbin]

I think Patsy’s brief interaction with Barrington was a turning point for her in the story. Without his forgiving eyes and tone I don’t think she would’ve began her journey of not only figuring herself out but forgiving herself. “It’s not fate, if you can control it,” Barrington said something like that to Patsy. I think for the first time Patsy attempts to take control of her life. She starts to face her past and begins moving in a path of redemption. She opened herself up to love, finally ended the toxic back and forth between her and Cicely, and eventually began trying to reconcile with her daughter. For the first time she has decided what kind of woman she wants to be and she’s living fully in that truth. I feel like Barrington showed her that things could be worse and she still was in full control on what ending her story would get.