Parts of Maxine Revealed

When Maxine describes her aunt in the first chapter of The Woman Warrior, parts of herself are revealed through interpretation. The following are two quotes I took from the text, which reveal parts of Maxine's character.

1. "She looked at a man because she liked the way the hair was tucked behind his ears, or she liked the question mark line of a long torso, curving at the shoulder and straight at the hip. For warm eyes or a soft voice...that's all...she gave up family. She offered us up for a charm that vanished with tiredness. "Why, the wrong lighting could erase the dearest thing about him." (Pg.8)

-My interpretation of this quote is that Maxine feels her aunt was foolish and wrong in choosing this man over her family. Maxine sees a "good looking man" as temporary. It sounds as if Maxine does not like the kind of women who judge men based solely on appearance. She thinks that is an unreliable way to judge someone. Maxine is saying that she would have acted differently. She holds her family above men.

2. "But since a woman combing her hair hexes beginnings, my aunt rarely found an occasion to look her best. Women looked like great sea snails- the corded wood, babies, and laundry they carried were the whorls on their backs." (pg.10)

-I think it sounds like Maxine has an appreciation for what is beautiful. She is a teenage girl, and cares about things like clothing and appearance. She explains what she finds unattractive, "women looked like great sea snails..." Also, she says that her aunt "rarely found an occasion to look her best," but maybe this is how she feels about herself.