Question

Why does Zitkala-Sa mash turnips so hard that she breaks the jar in "The School Days of an Indian Girl"? She is homesick and finds comfort and solace in the routine of mashing the turnips. She is so eager to please her teachers that she mashes the turnips with great enthusiasm. She is angry about an unjust punishment and finds satisfaction in taking out her frustrations on the turnips. She is upset that one of her dear friends has just died and relieves her grief by mashing the turnips.

Answer 1

She is angry, so she smashes the turnips.

Step-by-step explanation:

Answer 2

She is angry about an unjust punishment and finds satisfaction in taking out her frustrations on the turnips.

Step-by-step explanation:

During the school days of Zitkala-Sa who was a girl Indian, she was unable to speak English in her early days in school which affected her communication and understanding. Later on, in her school life, she was able to speak broken English which gives her a little bit of understanding and ability to communicate better which later resulted in her being mischievous thereby resulting in a spirit of anger and revenge.

However, there was a day she was punished for an offense she felt was needless for any form of punishment. In carrying out the punishment, Zitkala-Sa mashes the turnips with full anger in protest against the unjust punishment melted to her.