What significance does Marvella's struggle to attend the college of her choice have in the novel? What does Marvella teach Meridian?

What significance does Marvella's struggle to attend the college of her choice have in the novel? What does Marvella teach Meridian?

This was another eye-opener for Meri. She saw a manipulation of this girl by the father as another female like herself who was having a domineering male decide what she should do with her life. It upset her enough that she decided to step in and take action. Her success in this effort was a big self-confidence boost and the event that spur the ultimate career path she followed from that point.

I agree with joyces...Marvella's circumstance taught Meridian that there were a lot of young women out there who wanted to pursue higher education but don't have the support of their families or a support system to assist them with achieving their educational goals. It gave Meridian a purpose & a philanthropic opportunity to open doors to the younger women.

The significance is also in how Meri handled it. Instead of staying quiet, or flying off the handle, she thought about the best way to achieve the result that she wanted. The unexpected bonus was the support and friendship of Marvella's mother.

I agree with both of the above comments. Additionally I think Marvell's situation made clear to Meri that she had not been the only person to experience such manipulation nor had such behavior on the part of every traditional men been eliminated by "changing times." (That is to say, it wasn't confined to Alren's generation.) This realization served as an important motivator.

This is the spark for Meridian's foundation in the future. At the time of the incident, it is Rebecca, Marvella's Mother, who was most striking to me. That she suffered like Meridian under the thumb of a domineering husabnd, was well educated, wanted the best for her daughter, and welcomed help was a statement that the situation was common place. (This I understand as my father would not allow me to attend college) I loved that they persisted and succeeded, and became friends!

This successfully ties the story together, coming full circle from Meri's sacrifice of her own graduate degree, and is the impetus of her real donation to society - Wings.

I agree with joyces that Marvella's struggle was a real eye opener for Meri. It also successfully tie the story together as carolt stated. Meri was able to look outside herself, find a purpose in life, and help someone else, Marvella and other women. Meri was able to be happy.

Marvell's struggle showed Meri she was not alone in the experience of being held back by a person in authority over her, regardless of whether it was actual authority or a throne prepared for them by her lack of assertion. This was the first time Meri saw that she could make a difference in lives by teaching girls how to stand up for themselves and that they could forge their own paths.

Meridan found her backbone!!! She found her future!! I think everything in her brain just clicked on and she did not want to see Marvella's life turn out like hers.

Helping Matvella came at an important part of Meri's life. She realized how her husband had tried to limit her life, although he meant well. She also had seen how other women of the time were limited by their husbands jobs and ideas. She also recognized Marvella's curiosity as similar to her own and wanted to encourage it. I was more surprised that Marvella's mother stood up for her once she was led.

Meridian can look at Marvella's plight and see herself, it shows how far Meridian has come and it also shows her she can effect change. It gives Meridian her life's purpose.