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, ► ,,,
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f 1I' •!! "' ' I I ( I '"'1 c.:~
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..r
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111< 1•1111 0 • /'\ la11.\ li tld w: I'. :, l' I'" II,,
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IC trll ·• i, 1, , , . t, t
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,,r l1111112s· as ;1d 11l1 e 1y 11 , " " " " •·., .i 1.11 , 'Ii• • I11 ' , r
'
.,,K11 1, ,y n,I H,l , •,1 • , , . '• ' • I J
' cl• • ·ind 1111 0 11µ 11 11 1
. ·•~ v, Ht, ., 1~ ~,1 ,,
I
~ I
,J 1' 111>11)' ' cd lo 10w t I.ti 111, 1 IH, : ~· . , ,,
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1
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t • t
1(111 • 1J I I , , > ·~ ,, II)• ~ ,, ,,~. tr.
cit:0
pl thtllg •

t arethe themes In the 'tl ory'!

,.Wba/J/i·n· h)' Ka theri ne \ •la11, t1 el<1 we
lt:1\e tl,, . t ,. . " t
- 11 111' ~•J'j111.
. IlllJ ':...dccc plt on , Pilra l~ " "· Lo 111r111 1 . d•
, .,
.
111 ·1 ~ :,,_r,, ,t1 n,. \ •
., , , 1

1 ·on
• ,cp · . llC<..hon of lhc •~Jlfu·• r,·,,,,•-, ~u ~ • • .If}
1x: . nee . Ta ke n fro m he r eo
ccpt,1 . ,,r d :,f1
Ltr rc;,,Ju
:riai'edin l'd pe rso n h) an un ua m LcJ n:m :it cJo
rJ r1:, ~ 1~; c. , , ,
the thl
es d ea r lo I he rea de r lh: 11 ~I :, n•. ftt I
the s1ory it becom I
rth a ca n ,c c 1 11,1 h11 1/.' 11 r•m ~ I\ ru, hl;11, 11t,re2
ihc thcmc of happine ss . lk
rth a \ . n i<; J)C rie Lt. Sh e h:1 ~ a 1, ,. •n~ bU';r~:rJtJ a
Ercrylhing in Be C'i

by an d a nic e ho me . Th ere i, 110 1h1 n!! 1n her rl c that , tie

beau tiful ba
11
ge . l lo we ve r It is 1nt erc \1. J ne Ihm lk nh;i 1n rnan~
~ ike to chan
nc d by th e fo ct tha t sh c ca nn ot ex pre .__, her ha pp,ru.~ a\
111is feels sli
"k e lo . Th e re ad er aw are tha t Be rth a ,., rt,tn ctrn_ hcr'IC
sln ouldli ,...-::::1

s op ini on as to ho w on e sh ou ld ac1 If an~thing Benita \

iosocie ty'
he r fee l lik e a ch ild ag ain . Ilu 11 c1 cr ~he kfl0\ s 11:ia
liap~ness makes ~ 1

re ful in ho w sh e cx "r es se s he r;c JI \ga,n du to lhce

slk: must be ca a

ty mi gh t ha ve . ·1 hts m1 gh1 be •mponam as

~
~ ions tha t so cie
be su gg cs ti n g th at at the ti me the ,10 11 11 as 11 ntten
anstield may
ion of . ha pp in
. es s m1 ·g h I h' a, b c e· ,
""n L•' ,n,1Jc.rtll lo ~
· v"r
d"Yo ' t ex.press .
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1hl 111\\'lf,
"'' "'.1" Icd " '" '" ;, d;,) I"" ol h;,l'l" "'" '"'
<l~c, J "'
. " '" "i • ,c fp1
,,11~,dc II' 'lk1ll1
11
1
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1 1111 11 tl
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111
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11
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11 :1 ,u.s- . 1 11
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1
• lnr llc 11 ha .\t lht: l11nc the ,101\
.,._ • 11a,
1111 hl\.11
,<•ntld f,l11 CI C IC · · lr •·int ,n lhc m;t! - t:b l!!_t:11 1nc1 11111: lk 11 ha ,, pruha
1
• tl: l I.I 1 11 1\ lo lt11: hl1
I
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.., n" ec " iJI, " ""'" ,J" "'",", h " , , She h;o, "" """
·k Ill , I Ill, • ,
1,JI, '"' •' 1 111 do11 n
111 Th1 ,u•• 11., , l. cnt,c ~ mi_!!hl \11~_!.!l:\l that lkrtha 1.1111ld , 111:
1,1c \llll
Tl 1CIC I\ · illrh ah11 • 0 1h1nk n l' Ik 1tha1nr1:altt) ha~ no mcan ,tn
1)1 ~•l . '"
1 • lan)
nhle •,titer I 1:1.,~ ..., ll' o ,rhcb ah,· Shcl \tkpe11tlc111cnl.Jrch un!
. " I C\l ht: IC,ll ... iII ch.mg, "' lien "'""'"
"'''''" " , .. , .., i,, '"'he,·CJ hm ""' h",µ " .
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11:in! • I 'I 111X: l1111!.!
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• ''" " '; _ Jed h,. ""i'I'"'" ' , he• I"'"
I, k\1111.·II JOO"
I"".:,,"nli,""frnm ' '" ' " '" i

"oc ""'"'""" " n1,lb"! 11111 ll'tllt

lkr l 1.1\ I"" I 'll II1111 I fe r li fe h:1, d1:111 ol , 111.•c, ll') 111
dee cpt " ·c " 01 h he, m" , " ""; ,I h<'" a t<> I" " .
I I'" le;" " Ihe , <10,lc, ""l'• 'thn g """ ' I"' I ·,11,. ,,, ""'"•fa,.,
al O \lfll' 111 1111:il p: 11 :t 1! " ' ll l:· Itin\\
11:tii )
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lieI11:1 I:\ 111.,t , Ile h;io,; nu c h111n: hu1 In
•
gc h,o,, l u l!c,1l>!C, \'c, llo,, " •
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~llfll<.:l 11111!! Ih:11 I k-11 h.1 h:1<1 rc;tf 1,cd

·1hc1t m:t) also he ,11111c ~

n1hol 1.\ ln 111 Ilic , 101~ 11 h1ch 1na1
111
' M . lion lht· desir es and SC:\uallty in
~
UH' slor~·.
. " Bl I\, " cl11 111uclL·~. "Ia Idai . · .. "'
L:11 "h;ul li 1lk h11 1r"· - . - . , hLHI ,till)
• · Katltc 1111l· :'ll:111 \lldd
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t\ l.i11,1tdd u 1111pa 1c., ,\ 11 -;, I 11111111 Il ia J!lt'} t.1 11, 11 • , I . ' lk1 th·1·, • . , I,~,
. 11.-l'1 111"11I cl,·,, "'
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lu \ll!,!;_!c, ,1 ~•
ho 1 ""'
•
I . I I•"" ' ~, t11holtcall1
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lh,· '"", """" ' I I tl' 11d,
rcc1:11t1,. l'l:1.'\111w
h,·' "" """' ""''p'·"Il l h1h11 11 a
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11111I \I l Illlll.,,.uh lk11ha ,, ..m:1111cu, 'I ·IC lI \ ,1
I h,,i l!c, 11,.,.,,, , uo1 «·;,II ) ( .,, "" " hn
n
- I • II \Ii~, l·ulll• rd ..h,·1 hu,tht ~1111 i ·
lil\l 111111.
I I'""" h , 1,c Io;,d I",.,." " " ' 1 " '" ' "'"«·d I,,., l o I , . I n rnd Th,, ,s ill1
< ·' , ,l\'111., s •a<; ,c,11 :ilh 11:11\ l. and ha, nc i l'I ''tk·,11
. lll •'ll'll'll Ill 111111, .1111 i,rc,,· 111 and
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lb• "' I,·, I,Jc " " "· JI,,. ," eI,i o II he,Im"" I' .
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. I ·1111h1•••111111,1~I 111(1111
•
"'" "' ' " "' ' h•• """' .,,.,,, ,. '" " •'"'' ,.,.,,, I "'"' '"""
' hoo,1,1 , 1, 1,., " '' .,I," n " '"" , he '"" ' I I I , 111· la~i• '' 1
f11 111 , ' " l l l' ll:lllll l'll
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llu Huh•, 1, 11' 11 111 1){111·, 1· 1li.,1 llt-11li:i 1 ' 1"
I\· 111 1 1 1 • , ,Pl .,1u11 1 1 1· •
'11:i11d \ la11~1tl'ld \ l II ttn ~111I r, ·' " "- · ,.,l-1 I 1 11111 11
lt1l'11 l't\ tl lt·r1r 11,.... , l' I 1111l' .111d I 111• " ' ' 1h1· 1 1
 . •• • "'~I ll·LJ> Ill 1-.-.
J\"J
Bc rtha ·s a11 rm.:tw11 tn l'carl 1,
. 1101 e P1rctth .. . "x:k,
te1111s Ihm C\l:r. Bc11 ha .s homw,C'iu·ir t' .... and \t:c r,u,w
r . appc;11 "l11lc1 111 tr 111
. .:11 ' 1
- Clcrc,11: ,,, ,, :11 1 lc.J "' · ..' orm 1'" l,1\1 c.Jn, er
,he Joe~ not fee l scuial alt ractio n low· ·d • ' ~ rs lfllf> lr ·d c.., 111 , ,,,111c·ilun,!! n1hcnH•r I). JU\l ;" l'carl , I>IC\t:nu: l r.111,101 rn, 1hc
<.: h) 11 ~,~. 1
1111 · • nerth.i h) 111tcn~1 1~ rng her c motmnu l .
. i.l r s her I le I· """ Jd IPI
tht· lac.:t that her attrac.:tion 10 Pearl indu . , . . Hrsha,,ct If· ,rq ltq ,,,, 1 rc,pon.'
J , 11fTLt, 1n!! c,·c 1, tl11110 \\Ith a sc·n,,. f .... >C l o cudmaf\
~ I . I . . c:c:s such ·1 I1 . ~rn ,.... : 111 ~ ... e-
.. n 1''-'
·
I-,er1 ia tee s a ··1r111e :ur of fJropric1o~·1u·r>·· t 111111:-· ' -.... 0
_ · P ) , ,c- 11 . ··"'" 1•c;1r1 is· '•ilso assoc:1atcd with 1hc ··s,h er • .
a<,<,u111ed \\'ilh her \\ n mcn lira.ls··' ·suooc ' nw·1rd p
. '
' 1~s ·•
l:,lrl "that s"• l>-illlt
·
which 1he IWCl women ga1c at in the moonlr nht nd h I
pc.ii lrcc rn llcnlw ,
. . 1 rcJcll,
o / Pea rl 111 the \\':J) o ne miol11 ·be · · "'"' s in!.! th:it 1
m ·e,· . 1 ~ • s re " f>o• •11: ar~
. ~I f, ' •rth;t · ii:"· ~ m, a ..~) m1xi1 o l. her own hie" " Ith : .. a ., " 1c 1
' .
.. Thb sugg<:sts that Ucrtha 1s upcn lo nc,, , .. h,, ,..,c 11pcn
. • "' . .1 en er. 13 . ·•~ 11
I,~
about the J,nner pan~ 1s also nplic.:i ll}· Ii k ·d Crtha ~ C.\c,1 111 t,li•SSlllll' : . .. . - Pili'il r111,c, thal
s e fcc Is that s he has ··l:11len
h · 11
t: 10 Pc,1r1 · , . Cll)~ - ,0111,1,c.xualrl) Ill a \\ :1) th.11 rc.J1otrc Cl\ 1lr1.atrun" •~ not ·1he fact
111 lo ,·e \\'ilh .. Pc;-rrl ... s •llkll\Ja 1
·11
II I l
··oc 1·,- I
au I II women, .. .ind the ··nre (JI. hr· • ..' ,ls She ·1 1 ~ " · 1c an<l Pearl seem to share a m11111ent of mutual undcr\landinn
. 1 ' 11 m,,.d 1h31 sl . I . 1· . rthl 1· h .. . :
<.la~ leading up lo the part) is increase d h) physs. .. that 13
_ cnha feels,,
· ..i .. -~u!?hl Ill the er re c o unca ) rg I ol lhe moon shining on the
s1c,1 c:on1ac111 . .., \r-lfl'C. suggc~ts the 1~.11cnt1al rc1:1procallon of Bcrth;i\ fcclrng,
\\' bcn Pearl lakes Bertha ·s arm. Berl ha won~lcr . 1"\\'h· ·11hPcari pc d suppt'rts the idea that tJ1c two women he long to a different" orld
Ihe lo uc h o f tha t cc:x.1l arm that could r.111 sia, bl·s. ,II there 11
. a~~
311
• ic from 1h.1t of the heterosexual domc~tic11, 1h:i1 ,;o
• 1 ,1/.l fl O lhc hr f ~~~ . hmns thc,r
Iha! Bertha did no t know what 10 do with·)"T his ." '. c O
bl111 .
. .. . . · P1I) s1cal sens:it ,c~u;il clcsrrcs. .
con11,1s1ed \\ 11h Oertha s coldnes s lowards Harn wh· •. . IOnK orcourse. g1,u1 that humosc'iuaht) ,,;t, no1 open!) acknu" lcc.Jgc:d
.. IC1l IS evrdcn~ ,.,,.·
st'.mel h1~g Ihey h,n-e_,ilrea.d y a~ceplc ~ a~ part c_1f their marri.igc Be~ ,ns,~,cl)' 111 the [.dwar<lian pcricxl . and homosc'\ual rclatronships ultcn
e, en become s pamc ked_b) !he idea o l being lei! alone with hcrhusbaoo ·tc<l 011 the fri112c~ of nia11t'ilream culture. Bertha has rxi frame of
c~•~ -
reference 111 \\ hich to think about hcr desire for Pca1l. other 1han a,
and !he tho ught !he o / "Ihe dark room ·· and "!he 1\·;inn hcd... Thri
s uggests that 13ertha :l\'oid,; ha,·ing a ~ext.1.11 relationship 1111h Harn ,onicthing whic:h mu~t be <:once;iled or expressed in an amb1guo11~
a sharp contrast from lhl' glut t if \\'arm fl-cl ings and cx<:ilcmc,11 ,~ 11 a,·. The im::ige of the pear tree is thus further S) mbolrc of lorb1ddcn
dc; irc as ii relates to lht hiblical story of the Garden of Eden. rn 1, h1ch
feels 111 Pearl ·s presenc e. undersc oring Be1tha ·s careful!~ concealed
,\dam anti E\'c were rorhiddc n from eating fruit from the Tree ofl1fe
homose ;wali t) . Indeed. s he nolahl) feels lhe firs t pan~s of desm
Although Oc11ha ·s life is ,·cry free io some ways because of her uppcr-
lownrds her hus ba nd on l) while s he is immerse d in lhc "blis~"brougtt
mrd<lle class status anJ material wcalth. the pear tree s~mbolrzes the
on b) Pearl ·s prcscm:c. s ugges11 ng Ihis sutltlcn desire for I !arr) is rc~II! limitations in her lire; the u·ee itself remains out of reach be~ ond the
JUSI dis placed lo ng,ng for Pearl. 11mdo\\, reflecting rhc so1.:ial diffo:ult) that Benha I\OUld face being
!'he slOf). in tum. 1s implic ir ly c1i 1icil 11f a socicry lh,Hr~pre~ opcnl) gay in thic; pcnotl and society.
these relations hips and desires . t\ lan,;ficld herself haJ rcla1Ionslup; f:\·en ir lk11ha die.I opcnh reco2nize her destre ror Pearl a, se,u.,I.
"1th ,, o men throu!?l1out her life and \\TOie abo ut I1cr I.cm,i• le lorcrsinlII Ihrs 1s not some! hing that 1\ llllld •
he accept cu 111 1·.u.11'-ardian
• ., c ,oc1e1, fht
. ' ·
1s I1kcly LhatBc rtha- rcllcct-. \ lnn,;/lc . ltl.
so1\·n srrugg . ,.... ·,s ·1 llomusct
.. ,. . . Jude
. - .
lact lhat l:knha ·s J cs1rcs rema111 m~ stenou.". an . d uncxpla1ncd. c,·cn Ill
.
wo man in Edward ian socict), ,, ho \\'ould ha\-C been filrcc~ ~~ hcrsclf.• SU!!!!C!.t the tot.11 reprc~sw •
n an
d d al of homosc~ual dc, rr~
cnr . d
her relation shi ps with \\'Omen. r,.. lans ficl d's belief llwt ho~~~ .. ~
1111 h!. Bn11sh . •• . .
society. Bertha c; trustrntion ,ill .· h h situauon re; sugge,1e
. er
" narurnl and beautiful 1s rcflccled h) Bc11ha .!> 1·cc ]"1ll"' of hhSS
3
bl the story's endin!! \Yhilc Ben ha .rs despcra . I for some progression
:- i(X)O - c . :ict1c :ind
h) Pt.:1rl ·s m.~1ll.:ia1 1on \\'Ilh natural. hc;w llf..11 I th10:-· os ltkC rhc fl in her rclarion,; hip \\ 1th Pc.irl. the !.IO~ s c
• ·ndino 1s anll·C 11111, ·
. d 5r11c~ "
I hc: muon 1s assoc1a1ed \\'1 th lcm111111 · · 1l)
· 1n rn)·tl1olll'') :- · an 0 F.dJ1i
.
moonlig ht infLL<;c<, the 01gh1 oub 1Jc the d11111er P•1 • 11wkrn,._ . rl\
 '" ' II I
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1 ''l
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I\ • I 1'111,llfh I ltt~ 1 1111· ,I ii11,11 11,111 111 " '" 1111· W:t} ,
11 ltl pl.,, II''" I il lh H II 111!1 lhl ,~11111\
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on Thr 1•e· . •,· 111
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• '
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• •
11
l, ;1lht 1111c \ l.111s ltcld \ , 1u 11 1, 1111 \ "Ill . .1 ,k i I l>t L,111\l:..•, d uld L,11111111 1,1kL c..;111: 111 a Lluld ) cl ,,11, ,rlu I tlul
<>11,· ' ) lllhul 111pa1t111tla1 , 1:it1ds 11111 :tt1d • I\" ' . "ltllt"d 11 1II 1') 1111x1
11
111
11;!• , 1 1.1•1\ pill 1 idc, 111 sltapc llc11h:1 s 111µ111,il cl1:ir;iLll1 1, 1111 cl"~" 1
I I c.:1) flt n 111111t111 II111111~11' 1 Llc;u 11 lkr11t
. I
I 1c , 1111~ I 1;11 \) rnhol I\ lht pc;11 It el· in ti . . th the ·pit-' .. r' ,nt cal and ltc, male I h,, hc1.111 11l', ht.ri
ll 111,1111 d1·11 •·1Le, I11
I • '
k111µ h) lite pc:11. lttc and ,he L\Lla1111 \\ h,,1
lk11ha , ou11~ i1c11 :-- lhe 11cc ;,<, a s 1111l1 I I I '
II I I ..
' g:11lkn
11lt\UIC\ 11 IC. 111 0 cal , wal
'
. J \) (I ll'I I I\\
1c ,ind ~ 1
,,, cals a1 c l ~rsll ) . l.knha , 111 g111al L11a1Jt.1c1 l1e.: u1111t,
un1111c111 •
111nall) drc,.,c, like 11 11.: J>t·i, 1 .. 1 1 f( Ljl\ I1Ill 1r
. • ICC.: I~ II C .tilll" " :i Ill • . · ll 1 h) hci inc ,pcncncc w11h !>C'Wal ,,mu.,.11 rclcncd 1,, ,,., hh,,
.i , 11111~ ul ,:1dt head, , ~1cc11 , hot, and \ l<'-' ·'· 1 " .. . ,.. lllt d1c11 'opP,lll
"'"' ll_., . I licsc 111
. hll'!-i :" a "hrrrnmtn !!• cup ·1111:1ll<m inµ
1 ll llJiilftr1 '1Jc11 1ia r•·lei\ l1l her :rm! un;ihlt
k,c ... \ l.111 lht :t\MX't:1(11 111 o r lk11h:1 111th the I ' . . I . ~
. ICC: • )IJI lltc11: ate . . ,111·11111:u lk 1ha
1 doc,; 110I k11m, II h:11 Ill <.Jo 11 1th lhl\ hlr,, \ht.
" •') ' Ill 11htch the pea, tree tcp1 L·\c 11t, ·111d . tnilll) IUI)('. LI • • •

• " u )11nc:ctt <l 111 llc1111i c, pi i:, \c, 111 1, to ltcr:--cl l qu1 1c lr tcr.il l~ b) ll11nk111g tlm "all he, lcch n~
·1h I'
crclorc, the argumcn1 c.111 he /(lnt1ecl lha1 tht ne•1r I ... ·1 knu11 hem 111 e>tptC:\\
~hn f Id ' .. ,,, " ,. < fl (: 111 ,athtnnc 011111,\ , :1rr1c hack ag:1111. and aga 111 she d1d11
I ' ' IC s ) l 'iS \Cl\ cs a, lhc 111:1111 ' )'11lhol or f>•·rtl. \' 11_11 hal 111do 11 llh I l ...
\t \ ua I11) IIl ro11~hu111 the stu1) " 1,1 ,oun•i t
I h,s lccling o r hhss ,, "almo,t u11hcar:ihl c .. to hc:1 II hl1, , "takc:n
The pear tree n:pre.'><.:111, Bertha and htt !-.CXt1<1lt1,· ,n d1fl'c1u11 :hsc'iual a1o usal ,n the Cllllle"t of the , 101) . lhi-, due, 11111,ou11u hkl' lhc
i1a~, h rs~ o l all. lhc pea, tree icprc,cnt., 13ci1ha :1mf her i·ir~rna! thought\ ,,fa gmw11 woman or thin) . but mClrc like :111 rnC\pcncnccu
charactcr. 1 he pcanrct \ hotanical q11:i/111c, , 1:1nd r,•r lk 11ha ·~, ir~;ru" "lilllc girl .. -ll'hic h lk 1t ha actual!) rcfr1-; ll , hc-r,clf a~ 111 lht quntL
hc:cau,c ti ts dc,crihn J ;" hc 111~ 111 I11II hlol1111 hut rt "had 11111 a ;rnglr g11cn a hlllc carl1c1- that 1s trying lo dcu phcr her 01111 \C.'ill:JI kch ng,
hull " ·1his 111l11c<11cs lh:11 the trct 1, 1H1I k11tl11l·ll and 1hcreh11c purr .\II thc~c te 'ilual examples show that Ik n ha po,;~cs,cs a , c~ , 1rg, nal
and llnloucht u 13cr1h· h · ·II 1, 1w1 a 1·1ro1n 111 lhc lel11111cal ·
,1 cr.,c:: ~
,en.~ t ha1~1ctcr and lhat the pc.ir tree scn·c, .i, a '>) mhoi 111 h1ghl1~h1 th"
hu1 her fcc l111u, 111 I t I
~ • 011!! I:-- , till ac11un, 111d11.:.ilc her, 11 !.!tllal t har.rllrr II01rc1w. llw., is onl) one II ay m wh1d1 the pear tree ~ f\·c, a, a') 111 1:xil
l"h i, " '> h<m n. :1mu11g ulltc-1 11111)!!\ . h, her childlike ll~h:11wur al the lo i lknha\ sexu.ilit} .
0 the \ lo,) f lcr dc\1 1~ 111 :lo , 1111 111, 1<.:ad of 11 alk. to 1111111
hcginn,n~ 1 The Pear tree also rcprcscnt c; Bcnh:i \ a\\akenin ~ ,n11alt1~ and
1111 1 h
a h()(lp" :ill U<.: ti rnc her chrh.lli ke L"lt:rractc:m 1ic, .. \11Plht:r due 11 ninrc spce1tic.1lly: her biscxuahl~ The pear tree ·s hotanical qualit,c:,
, hon '>1111' 11101·,c.J . I' I . . • .1 111 th
J c, " ><.:11 1.1.., la, 1 n:unc ·~ u1111!! · lkrtha s 1·11~tr1J1 ,., l'a,c 1cprcc;cn1 hc1 h1~exualit, Tius ,._ hccau,c the tlm1t·r, ol a
aLtcr 1<.al, 11 l11 nl I I ., , • h • ·1 rd,
l h,u 1
"' 1~ lltu l .\ he I feel 1r1•~ o l 111:1dcq11aL 1. 11 ii re~, Pl.'ar trc:c posses~ hoth nwlc .ind rc,;1alc or!!m~ The 1)1;ar lrtt 1' u,cd
to hc1 1111 11 c hild ·1·1 I J,
ll· 'l'IIIL·111.:c "She , tuod 11 a1c h111!!- 1he111. her l,lfl In lunhcr dl'1·cfop the ,;itu:111~)11 hctwc<.:11 13crtha and Pead \t lea, ,.
h, her \ tllc lrkc.1 1111 I I -11!1 lhnt ,~ h 13 h I h
I. 111 • ' P1 rllic g11 I 111lro111111 the 11ch !.!t rl 111t h I ll'u' · mi· cnha pcrcc1l'cs the situation bcl\\ ccn l cm 11 1cn t e~
" ' ., lin t llcn ha uoc, ., • Ii 111J "a1dcn •:ii the pear 11 e1: In that llllllllllll
' 111111call ~ k11<111 11 h;il 10 dn II tt h her du ( ' 1hr 1both
a1c . lookinoc- uut into !he :::-•
ici: "l'C111eJ "almost lo uch the nm 1,1 lhC' 111uml. , rh ti m11011
to
 KATIIERI\E ~IAN SAELD

1si
The 1rec .sl iII_ re prcsc nls Bert ha and lhe 1' loon re presents Pearl, bcca1
she ts "(\'lnn g s1h·cr and has "slender fin!?ers that ,vcrc ~ ~'l
J>a 1ca
I" h · .. h
1g l see n1ed to cnn1e f ron1 then1 ". /\lso. her name is Pe.arl, whic 1
lookin:
ac~uaU~ the first clue, since the moon is often referred to as
utter!~
sluny and pcarlcscent. Bertha feel s like she and Pe~rl Fulton arc
g of ~ach othe;.
connected in tha t n1o n1c nt and perfectly understandin
nt of hliss with
Be11ha has a short. hut for her very impo11ant mome
Pearl \\·here the~ figurati,·cly touc.:h, a\\'akening her biscxuaJity
e\·en

more and n1akin g her ferling of bliss gn.1,v. Ho,vcvcr, after this
n1omcru 1
follo\\ ·s Bertha ·s realization of Pearl and her Hushand's inf1in2e .. mcn1 i
and Bertha ·s hliss is nhruptly taken a,vay fron1 her. The
fact thai
tion is
the mo on represents Pearl during the mon1cnt of their connec
Pearl
actually. fores hado,vin~... the fact that Bertha can never he ,vith
in the \\'n y that she des ires . The n1<.1on docs not only rep
resent Pearl.
y. This
hut she also serYes ns a syn1bol of fen1ininity in this sho11 stor
is because the n1oon has been connected to the n1cnstrual
cyck since
widely
ancient his tor) , due to its t\\-cnty -cight day cycles. It is alsn
bclie,·cd that " ·hen a girl gets her first period . she becomes
a ,vom:in
~ f iss f-ullon ·s connection to the n1o on dis tanc es her
fron113crtlw s,ncr
is cd
Bertha is connec tcJ " ·ith the ,·irgina) pear tree and Pea rl co11 ncct

to the " ·on1~ull y n1oon.

7 Rr itfl ) cri tici ze the intense feeling of Bertha.

 1•;:: ~ \1111.J{J\l :\1,\N .
SJ·l f:1.i,

I he 1rcc s11II rep,c.·,cnl\ 13cnha ancl th<.:. ~loo Ill .I::,~ ]'J.l
. I
,he 1, 11·cann~ s1 ,·er and has "sl .1 n rcr>r,.'Sc:
· cnucr fi 11
h~ht ,ccmcd to cnmc from them " ,\ I· ngc~ lfla1lt'\ r:idinnt woman in a frcnL) of jX.1\,;mn Thi'> moment o f the will
.1et11..1ll) the flr~t cl ue. since lhc moons?· her na.,,e
is Of
..... . llic1/ '
l~ I
01
sftl. 11111-· .
r· image rcll~ ting Ihe· ra (I'iant. i.m1li11g <;elf nt:1) be p::irt1cularl )
~run~ :ind pcark,cent Bcr1 ha feel,; like sh lcn rcren \it,
1
J1W l e of her du.1hl) . or more "J)Ccifi callv the <lual11, ol her <l<:\lrl'
1
jJccll' · • •
w nncctc<l 111 that moment and pc 1. . e and Pea I C(Jto. \ . 1-•~css
re i;O contL~ b:11:k again whibt &nha ,~<lc-.cnhinu~ her ph) ,11.:·11
. r cctiv u d r f.111 ~ ~.1 •11ll' lJ.J I • • • •

llc11ha ha:- a short. hut ror he r v Cl\' . . ., n crs1;ine1·ll)o I~ ,resuniahly sex ual. relat1onsh1p w11h I !arr). ·11 lwd ,i om c·d her
Im ()0 1
nod ~•full\' al tirsl to fi n<l that she "·as so cold.· \\'hen l'~ rl :1tn\'C,
J>c;irl II here the) fl !!Ur.11i1 c l) 10 ·h·• <l\\';ilcrt. n1 Ill~1.,1(
··••11:111 ~
• ~ II<.: . drcau ,er •the whole lcehng . returns more powcrrull\ than hcforc • 11 "
morcandm akmghcrl ccl ino · .
o fht l!ls en1nghcr b'iscW l,(J\\'CI · . •
. . ~ !:!row H ,.,. uf her ·coul arm that could .lan-fan-s1a11 hlaLmu-hJ:. u jnl! · •md
lnllo11 s l3cr1ha s realilation of pc.ir . •and ·h m,·c1·cr,a,1c .~ '~1 the Ill.,..11 . . . . e, • '
1 11~ then cuJ rninale 111 the lire of hhss. Thest contrasting images or heal
an d Acrtha ·s h(i<;-; 1s ahruntl) k
1a en awa . f er
1 h1s~ lld- .~
sInf d Cl)ld seem to demonstrate the source of Bertha ·!-> real ·feelrn!.' ol
i·
an. ~·- ne,1hacons1'dcrs herse 11·· coId' m ' I1crhe1crosc,;ualc,;,,,.ncncc~ •
t he moon_represents Pearl <.Jurin!? the m ) rom her. . 1·-

:ictually loreshndow ino the f 1 ~t 1un Uenf Oll!cnt of the· l'hc1 hiIS I, Jan y. she hccomcs frigid. but her homosexual dcsu~s for Pearl
~ nc . . ir c~:S \\
1111
in the ,1 :iy that she dc'iircs T l la can ne1·cr i... ianitc 111 her 1he authentic heat of p.1ssion
h h . . le moon docs •ic ~

ut <; c alo;o scn ·cs a-; a •svmbol 1· 1· . . • not only rcpr ~ T he stllr) e1·ent11ally leads 10 Ucrth:i 1dcn1irying that · For the first
o cmininit . . . ~~
t1nie in her life she desired her hu<;band ·. but h) following Bcrth;1\
I,.,. •

I\ l~C,lll'>c the moo n Ins be· • ) in this sr...- 1

' en connected I I •~ ~,
thou!!hl prot:c!>ses we can rccogrn,.c Iha! 11 is in fact her dcsirt for
ancie nt history, due to its tll'ent ·-··01 Ol lcmcllslruuln~
hcl"1c1 cd l Iiat ,1·hen a 21rl octs h ) IiCl~- 11 dav <.:\ ' I
. , . c cs. It is 3lso
· Pc:,ri that leads to her m1sintcrprc1cd de<.irc for Harr) . Bertha lirsl
~ 11\~ Fulton\ connec~mn ~to l,I1e ermoon Irst pcnod. ~he hcc01nr1a, Cl'll~1dcrs telling her hush.1nd ·1\ hen we :ire in hcd tonight II hat has hctn
d ist· happcmng. ll 1s through thinking ahout ·11 h,11 <;he :ind I hal'c shaied·
Ikrtha I \ <.:11nncctetl ll'ith th . . · . . ,tnccs hcrrrom flnt'o
lo the 11·on1" ,, c , irg111al pear tree and Pn' rl IH•u thal lt.:a<ls to thc ·strange and almost ll'fltl)mg' thought 1hat tlarts1
... Ju) moon 1nm Bertha\ mind. \\' hat is this strange and almost terrifying th111g'
It 1<; & 11ha'), !>cxu.il dc),irc fnr Ptarl that wrfacc-s strongl~ ll'hcn she
7. Brit. fl .y crlt'ic1·ze the lnttnse . ftt Ung of Bu th imagmcs lic1ng in hcu with llarr: In other lll>rcls ii 1s Bertha's l1h1<lo
Sc1c1:d CJ'IIIC\ h,I\C 1dcnt r ·ti I tlw •'-llllt11se a. that ·somcth111g hlind ' that ha~ hcrn all'ah ·ncd. It is ·s1ra11ge· hcc;1u~c
:t\\ mhol )I h . I It ki fedin~ rl·
• 1 er ,111akcm:<l ti. . 1 • <;he ha, ncl'Cr cxpcm11ccd it ~o , 1rnngl) . and ii is 'almost tcrrif~,ng'
1101 e, plit lll\ c, d. . . e,rrc or 11:11 I') . :111d or l'earf \lib . hccau~c 1)t her eh1ld1-;h frif'icl11~ fk11ha hnally rccogni,.cs ll'hal 1h1<;
· • ~ 11·I1al " lll'lllll~ 1lus ,,.,
ien1 . .itf11 , 1c,·1ctl I
, p:1rk.., · 111 I ..
• k

1 1111t hc . t · • •1i1c 111' hho;-;' has been lc:idrng up ll-..1. and although she 1nisintcrprc1s
c , I . . K r ll1\1 n t ll'>ll'c u...c 111 the · 111c· :111dhr'Jl nl<ll' the nh1cc.:111f hcr dc!->1rc. 11 c. <;u1ch. canno1 In lact. ' ll'c \\'ould he 1111.,re
11 )(: 11C.:'>t n hcd a, he .,
111~ ') IH 111)mo11, 1111h ,e~11.'.llpJ)~
dc, 11c II I . lhan hlimJ 11 1, e !'ailed l\l rcah1c 1i1:11 ii 1!> Pearl II ho ~1,r. Berth:i, 1hat II
)(: !!Ill\ II llh II ' I )
, uddcnh . lc e,t11pt1011 111 her hli" a~ 'thou~h is , hl' wh1) ha, hccn the focu, l)f Hertha\ 1hnugh1'i. nnt 11:i~ ·
. " ' .1llm1 td • . •0 ~
111 \ lllll t :i
r icu 1 th:11 h11 ht altcmoon wnnnd 1I
11
< 'r111c<. ha1 c 1dc 1111ticd the phall11: ,~ rnh11lr,m 111 the pc:1r t1c·c.
1'N rm l111k , hm . ~ .
P·"'" ' ll:1tel) . H J 111 ,p:11~, . and u 1nt1nm:~ f'IW 1 1cwed I>~ lkr1h:i and l'e;id. hut I h.:lcn ~ cbckcr furt her nph11c, the
11 ll IJ ll 111 IlCI• I)(l\11111
I \t.:\ual 1mplH:a111111, inherent 111 1ht pear 11cc 1hrough an undcrstand111)!
llltrt , tin: \ 1111\ . 111 1L'I
l ~•I nt" · P•"' narc heat 1, l l 1111r:1,11:d ~g:uf!SI nl it, hotan1\..1l , 1g111htancc ·1he pear 1rcc '1· 111 lacl . h1<;c~ual h~
1I 11 .J\ d 1"~ \ I h.
n 111•-' d 111111!.! 11111111 :u1<l<f1111c ch1I ~
t~
11:tturc It, llim er, u lllt:un hoth m;ilc :ind lcrnalc 11rl!all'>. thcrd111c
)
,111 lt ll 11111 .
Ill ,lfl11\ lht '
1~ 1, :il, 1, a 'u1ld 1111111 11 1h;1I fl
•O l-tl•"