Theme Of Abandonment In Leaving Gilded

Is there ever an age where it is too young to realize death is better than being forsaken? "Leaving Gilead" written by Pat Car directs the attention of the reader to the topic of abandonment. The Civil War has just broken out and Saranell's father has went to war. Saranell is left within the care of her mother, Geneva, and the slaves. As the reader begins to dive further within the book, they come to realize the tear between Geneva and Saranell's relationship. As an eight year old girl in the Civil War era, depending upon a slave for comfort and support had less of a negative effect than to rely on an absent minded mother. It is better to loose a parent through death then through emotional abandonment.

Carr illustrates the hardship between
Saranell tries time after time to grow and be apart of her mother's life but all that her mother does is turn her head. "Maybe Renny's right. Maybe Mama will like some flowers," she murmured as she stooped for the yellow blooms. "But I'd like them better if they were pokeweed we could eat."She tucked the stems into the mouth of the pitcher, and when she couldn't crowd any more in, she took it back inside.Geneva didn't acknowledge the bouquet, however, and she ate the third of tasteless pancake without a comment"(Carr 116). Regardless of how thoughtful Saranell may be towards her mother, all she receives in return is a cold shoulder. Geneva, upon being gifted with the flowers, should be overcome with joy and delight instead of scoffing and looking the other way. In the book The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins the reader is able to see similarities between Saranell being emotionally abandoned and Primrosee Everdeen being physically abandoned by her sister and mentally abandoned by her mother. As Katniss waits to board the train to the Capitol, she tells her mom to stay strong, if not for herself then for Prim. "You can't clock out and leave prim on her own. There's no me now to keep both of you alive"(Collins 35). Prim solely relies on Katniss for support because of her mother being absent minded after her husband's death. Now that Katniss has been selected to participate in the Games, Prim is left to fend for herself because her mother doesn't take care of her. Even though Katniss has the possibility to become the victor in the Games, it is almost better for her to just die instead of abandon Prim who clings to the possibility of seeing her sister again. Children look towards their parents for guidance and comfort, if their parent is not emotionally their for them they become lost and feel