Lives of Girls and Women

In “Changes and Ceremonies” what significant changes occur?

This chapter centers around the focus of the Operetta. I viewed the importance of the Operetta as the right of passage for moving on from middle school/Junior high to high school. I thought of this as an important influence of change because of this quote, "It was becoming known that boys-- some boys-- would walk home with girls--some girls-- on that night" (149). Throughout the whole chapter, Del was beginning to look at boys differently and she was looking at the desire to become one of "those girls". She even develops an eye for Frank Wales which was something new to her, so new in fact she didn't even mention it to her best friend Naomi. And this year was generally the last year before people made life decisions. Some of her classmates did not even come back to school the next year but went to do labor work. It seemed to me that this chapter was the last year that Del had innocence. 

Slammerkin

The red color of the slammerkin is a major motif in the novel. To Mary, the color red has captivated her because she lives in a world of gray poverty, hardship, and isolation. To her, the color red symbolizes a chance for her to live a life beyond her humble one and enter a world of excitement. The color red also reminds her, however, that in the life she lives now she can never have something as nice as a red ribbon. So it drives her to into a new life of prostitution. Here in this life she is learning how to control men and hold power over her own life. The desire for the red ribbon high-lights the underlying desire for power and control that Mary seeks in her own life.