Question

This is what reminds us of Greenville, / the Saturday-night pressing of satin ribbons, / Hope struggling with the knot in his tie, / our hair oiled and pulled back into braids, / our mother's hands less sure / than our grandmother's, the parts crooked, the braids / coming undone. And now, Dell and I / are left to iron our own dresses. / My hands, / my mother says, / as she stands at the sink, holding a crying Roman / with one hand, / her other holding a bottle of milk / under hot running water, / are full.

A) Nostalgia for simpler times.
B) A chaotic family scene.
C) The challenges of dressing up.
D) The importance of family traditions.

Answer 1

The provided passage highlights a family scene where reminiscent thoughts of simpler times and grooming traditions are juxtaposed with present-day responsibilities and challenges.

Step-by-step explanation:

The passage provided reflects a moment of reminiscence coupled with the reality of a busy family life. In essence, it reminds us of a time when family traditions and preparations for communal events were a collective effort; a nostalgic recollection of simpler times when multiple generations were involved in the ritual of dressing up. The context of the passage seems to blend memories and the pressing needs of the present, painting a picture of a family that has lost some of its established routines and now faces new challenges while upholding cherished traditions.

The passage also touches upon broader themes that Ellen Glasgow explored in her fiction, such as biological impulses, social classes in conflict, and the transition of the Old South into the New South. Furthermore, it confronts the dissonance between illusion and reality, where idealized memories of the past clash with the stark demands of the present.