Tuesday, September 4, 2012

"Stepping Heavenward" Diary Entry #4

September 4, 2012

Dear Diary:
Chapter Ten of Stepping Heavenward felt like the slightly cliched (but endearing and heartwarming) "beginning of the rest of their lives" kind of chapter, in which Ernest and Katherine finally declare their affection for one another and get married. I thought it was lovely that her mother approved so heartily (but really, Ernest is a very decent fellow), and it was nice to see Katherine so happy about something as worthwhile as marriage. I also liked seeing the conflict arise for the happy couple in spending time with each other and whatnot (because conflict is the soul of plot), and the observations Katy is able to pull from it when deeply pondering marriage and its operation ("...is it the sacred union of the twain who walk together side by side, knowing each other's joys and sorrows, and going Heavenward hand in hand [Prentiss 108]?"). Ah yes, and then guess who sweeps into the story? The In-Laws *cue dramatically dark music*. I think that when Ms. Prentiss selected the name Martha, she did so with great care and purpose for the following events.

In Chapter Eleven, the tension within Katy and Ernest's household is palpable from the very first line. Honestly, I sympathize with Katherine (perhaps because she is the narrator?) over her angered thoughts and overall frustration with her in-laws (I found myself thinking "You go, girl!" when "...all the vials of my wrath exploded and went off [Prentiss 116]."). This leads to an honest and open conversation with her husband (which I believe is always vital in a good relationship), but she still finds herself dissatisfied and guilty for exploding by the end of it. Martha really does not try to help or encourage Katherine and Ernest's relationship in this chapter (honestly, I don't know if I would be able to control my tongue from saying something very cold and scathingly blatant if I were in Katy's place). But her actions do trigger the couple to having an honest and open conversation yet again, with much better results this time around.

At the outset Chapter Twelve, Martha sorely degrades her own sex (by very nearly worshiping men) and has really crossed a couple of boundaries in Katherine's eyes. But James, Katy's lovely and cheerful older brother, arrives at their household and helps to somewhat alleviate her sense of intense frustration with her in-laws. I think that her father-in-law is lonely and afraid, which is why he comes up with so many scenarios of his own death; but I also think it was pretentiously judgmental and quite Pharisaical for him to assume things about Katy's relationship with God. Katherine and Ernest's first anniversary rolls around, and Ernest seriously drops the ball by not even remembering it (yeah, terrible move, husband!); but I think that he maybe sort of slightly atones for it by introducing his wife to Mrs. Campbell, who is a very wise and spiritually mature woman who gives very good counsel to Katy. And then the chapter ends on a rather rancid note (literally), as Martha decides to buy disgusting butter.

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