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An American Marriage


A masterpiece of storytelling, and a 2018 Oprah's Book Club Selection.
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Is Celestial a woman so liberated and focused on her work that she needs no attachments or is she so insecure that she can’t handle them?

Created: 04/15/19

Replies: 6

Posted Apr. 15, 2019 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
janeb

Join Date: 10/09/18

Posts: 49

Is Celestial a woman so liberated and focused on her work that she needs no attachments or is she so insecure that she can’t handle them?

Is Celestial a woman so liberated that she needs no attachments or is she so insecure that she can’t handle attachments? Is she so focused on her work that she can’t give energy to a relationship or is she hiding behind the work to avoid having to work at a relationship?


Posted Apr. 18, 2019 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
ruthiea

Join Date: 02/03/14

Posts: 271

RE: Is Celestial a woman so liberated and focused on her work that she needs no attachments or is she so insecure that she can’t handle them?

I am not sure I felt she was Liberated, as much as I felt she was spoiled and self centered. She was raised to think she was special and she should put herself first, but then she put up with Roy's infidelities and stayed with him despite his immaturity. When he was not there beside her she turned to another man.To me, it seemed she felt she needed a man despite her talent and success. She felt obligated to Roy despite his anger and violence, I feel a liberated woman would have drawn a line at some point and taken better care of herself.


Posted Apr. 18, 2019 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
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kellilee

Join Date: 11/18/14

Posts: 70

RE: Is Celestial a woman so liberated and focused on her work that she needs no attachments or is she so insecure that she can’t handle them?

I think a liberated woman focused on her work is still entitled to an attachment and that attachment makes her no less liberated. I think Celestial followed her heart more than her head and, as a result, produced beautiful art. I also believe Celestial to be quite self-centered as well as insecure. Her pursuit of her art often eclipsed or trumped the relationships around her.


Posted Apr. 20, 2019 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
susiej

Join Date: 10/15/14

Posts: 363

RE: Is Celestial a woman so liberated and focused on her work that she needs no attachments or is she so insecure that she can’t handle them?

I see Celestial as a self-centered individual, spoiled by her family, especially her father. At the same time she is a fine artist. I do not see her as liberated, yet I do not see her as insecure as much as simply always wanting and enjoying the support of others whether in her professional or personal life. Wanting that support does not mean, to me at least, that she is insecure. She listens to and uses the advice of others to make plans for her business; she has her own artistic ideas and puts her business plans into action with the support of those around her. She is accustomed to being admired, having her work admired; she is intelligent and hard working, but she is not liberated or insecure - she simply expects to be cared for, expects to be fussed over, to being focused upon - this makes her self-centered in all aspects of her life.


Posted Apr. 23, 2019 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
marianned

Join Date: 07/02/15

Posts: 100

RE: Is Celestial a woman so liberated and focused on her work that she needs no attachments or is she so insecure that she can’t handle them?

Celestial is the character I liked least. She came across as a feminist in many ways, but I think she was uncertain and confused about what she really wanted in life. For that reason it was easy for her to put everything into her art and her shop. That way she didn’t have to think about her relationships, an area where she didn’t feel nearly as confident.


Posted Apr. 23, 2019 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
JillL

Join Date: 10/19/16

Posts: 44

RE: Is Celestial a woman so liberated and focused on her work that she needs no attachments or is she so insecure that she can’t handle them?

I don't think she is liberated as much as selfish. She did what she wanted with who she wanted.


Posted Jul. 02, 2019 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
bill

Join Date: 05/25/17

Posts: 23

RE: Is Celestial a woman so liberated and focused on her work that she needs no attachments or is she so insecure that she can’t handle them?

Celestial relied on Roy and his ideas to get keep her business gong but gave him no credit for his input. Was that to appear liberated?


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