Fall on Your Knees by Anne Marie MacDonald - Journal #1

          This compelling novel reveals many sides to the theme love.  Love is very dominant and powerful throughout the novel. In the beginning, we are introduced to James Piper who falls in love with Materia Mahmoud. This is shown when, “She ran right into his arms and he swung her around like a little kid, laughing, and then they hugged,” (13). Their childish love for each other rouses and eventually they elope and move away. This romantic love that is created between a 13-year-old teenager and 18-year-old adult grows. Nonetheless, forbidden love is also present. Mr. and Mrs. Mahmoud did not approve of Materia’s relationship with James. “Materia was forbidden to have anything to do with the piano tuner,” (14).   Mr. Mahmoud describes this situation as, “ It was that he had come like a thief in the night and stolen another man’s property,” (17). Thus, Materia was forbidden to see her family and disowned her love towards them. This is illustrated when, “…Mrs. Mahmoud burned, snipped and bundled off her daughter’s memory,” (16). 

Conversely, at the center of this epic story is the nature of family love. This is very strong and dominant. Firstly, James creates a special bond with his first daughter Kathleen.  He loved her more than his wife. This is demonstrated when, “They went on long walks hand in hand…” (38). He gave up his studies and a lot his time in order to spend as much time with his daughter. For instance, “He hadn’t much time for his own reading…James taught his daughter to read words soon after she learned to read music,” (40). He was very protective and caring for Kathleen. However, in certain circumstances he went over the line. The closeness of their relationship lead to tragic results – incest. This is exemplified through his emotions and actions; “A life and warmth enter his body that he hasn’t felt…She will be safe with him, I’ll keep you safe, my darling, oh how he loves this girl…” (61). His love for her lead to sexual desires. This is revealed through James when, “he shocked himself. He lets her go and draws abruptly so she will not notice what has happened to him,” (61). Furthermore, this family love is stretched between the Piper sisters. They’re love for each other is beyond measures and words. After the deaths of Kathleen and Materia, Mercedes, the next oldest sister, takes on as a ‘mother figure’ to her younger sisters and her father. “Mercedes assumes the responsibility for the soul of Lily Piper,” (171). In addition, even through tough obstacles Mercedes makes sure no one is hurt. In some extreme situations Mercedes sacrifices her respect towards her father in order to help her sisters. This represents the miraculous, unstoppable love she has towards her sisters. This is because, “Daddy does not permit trash in the house and Mercedes is constantly hiding Frances contraband under her pillow” (197). Hence, sometimes violence takes on a form of love. For instance, when James abused Frances and she left home he went after to look for her. “I have to find Frances now…” (369). This is some of many incidents where violence and torture turn into love. Mercedes also shows extreme passion and love through her worriedness. This is exemplified when she says, “She will disappear. She will die and I’ll have no one to love and look after,” (437). As a result, love weaves in different patterns throughout the novel. It’s very important and vital in terms of devolving character to get a insightful view on each perspective on the characters. On the inexorable journey the characters take, we encounter dark yet vivid images of neglect and violence, yet the novel radiates and shimmers love throughout the novel.   

Journal #2

          Another feature that makes the novel so compelling is the array of unforgettable characters portrayed throughout the novel. However, there is one character that sticks to the reader to the end. There is something very mythical and enchanting about MacDonald’s portrayal of Lily. In fact, Lily Piper forms the heart of the novel. Lily, being the youngest of the Piper sisters, is a mystery to the others and to the reader. Lily is loved by her whole family. For instance, James states, “That only makes her more precious to me” (188). She is the delicate rose to her father, and becomes Daddy’s favourite after Kathleen dies. An example of James’s affection towards Lily is when “James struck Lily’s sweet head and she caressed Daddy’s hand with her cheek” (188). Moreover, Lily’s innocence, love, and genuineness towards others draws the reader closer to her. For instance, when Frances was predicting her own death Lily states, “Frances, I don’t want you to be an alcoholic, I don’t want to lose you” (184). She is very concerned about others and takes things very emotionally. As well, Lily also brings humour into the reading. This makes the novel so much more interesting and fun to read. Lily takes everything very seriously, even when Frances tells her the most ridiculous things. This is revealed when Frances makes up a story to tell how an orange cat kills Lily’s other twin. “…It put its mouth over Ambrose’s face and sucked the breath out of him. He turned blue and died” (205). Lily was shocked and couldn’t believe yet. “Lily doesn’t move a muscle” (205). Frances’ manipulative skills persuade Lily into believing here flawed stories. In addition, Lily has a supernatural “gift” where individuals think she’s a saint. “Mercedes loves me because I’m special to God” (377). She can predict things in the future and has telepathy, where she can read other people’s minds. This is proven when Lily tells Mercedes what is happening to Frances, and thus locates where she is. “She has a beat up face, but the man didn’t do it,” (278) or when she says, “Ambrose says not to worry. It’s not a bad man she’s with” (377). Furthermore, Lily brings inspiration to others and even to the reader. Lily is crippled, but that doesn’t stop her from watching over her family and being constantly active. She states, “her bad leg is special because it’s so strong” (377). This optimism is another bright quality that’s always present in Lily. As a result, Lily is very special because her destiny remains a mystery throughout the novel. The reader is immediately attracted and drawn to such a rich deep character that forms the heart of the novel.

 

Journal #3

The one aspect of the novel, which touched me greatly in an absurd way, was how the novel revealed the rich inner secrets, lies and unspoken knowledge of various events. By MacDonald keeping these mysteries hidden and slowly revealing them, it created suspicion and shock in the reader’s mind. The first event, which illustrated this, was when Kathleen goes through childbirth. Materia “takes a pair of scissors – old kitchen scissors freshly sharp and sterilized to cut the cord – and plunges the pointier blade into Kathleen’s abdomen just above the topography of buried head” (135). This is what established many troubling mysteries because through the birth, Lily was born. Lily is the youngest daughter where the mystery surrounding her birth brings into questions whether or not she is one of the Piper sisters or not. Personally, I was under the impression that Kathleen’s pregnancy resulted due to her affair with a black stranger. This is exemplified when,  “Her daughter’s hands traveling over a black back, disappearing beneath the waistband of a pair of striped trousers moving between his daughter’s bare thighs…” (549). However, in the last few chapters of the novel, the reader is exposed to what really did happen. “He takes her in his arms. She is naked with shame, just wants some clothes, please –” (549). Horrified, disgusted, shocked, revolted, are some of many adjectives that run through the reader’s mind when they are revealed to this shocking news. It was incest. James had and affair with his own daughter, made her pregnant and was his fault she died. “Piper killed his daughter by not calling the doctor…” (355). This also reveals the true inner qualities of the character. In the beginning we were introduced to a friendly, caring, loving, hardworking father, to an abusive, violent, sick father. James abusiveness is further developed when he practices his molestation against Frances. For instance, “Daddy kissing the top of her head with a long knife in his hand…” (369). Furthermore, the catastrophe prevails and is further advanced due to the sins and secrets of the father. Frances is sexually abused, beaten and berated by her father. This is exemplified when, “There’s blood crusting her nose and  filling the gully that meets her upper lip” (366). This is very deep and appalling to see to whole family fall apart due to James offenses and uncalled behaviour. The reader sympathizes with the innocent Piper sisters along with their anger towards James.

Additionally, another occasion that unlocks the secrets of the many ambiguities is through Kathleen’s relationship with many individuals. Out of the numerous affairs and thoughts she had about people, Rose was the one that astonished me the most, particularly because she was a female. Kathleen had a lot of feelings for her along with sexual desires. This was very creepy and abnormal to me as it is stated when Kathleen, “did something crazy – I kissed her on the lips…” (523). This would be the last thought that would ever arise into a reader’s mind about Kathleen. This is mainly because Kathleen was at first portrayed as a sweet ambitious individual. It was quite a surprise to receive such peculiar information about Kathleen. Lastly, another incident, which alarmed me, was when Frances got shot. This was very unexpected. “Teresa swung the rifle through a hundred and eighty degrees, caught it with her shoulder, armed and fired (401). Poor Frances was pregnant and as a result, the infant died. However, despite all the disturbances and the conflicts that have arisen, MacDonald wraps up the loose ends and gives the reader a complete feeling of satisfaction, even though at times you are still struck with the unanticipated knowledge that was provided.    

Journal #4

      Macdonald establishes another vital element that is present throughout the novel. Isolation is another important variable that sets a second major theme. The reader gets the first glimpse of this through the eyes of Materia. Materia seducing James resulted in separation from her family. “She was dead to them all from that day forth” (18). She was disowned and rejected by her family due to her betrayal. This separation is further revealed by Mrs. Mahmoud when she, “…watched her husband eat and thought of her lost daughter,” (51). Although Mrs. Mahmoud knew her daughter was gone forever, she missed her. Additionally, not only was Materia isolated from her family, but also she was isolated towards her first daughter. Materia questions, “How could it be that she loved other women’s children and not her own?” (55) She made many attempts to love her child but she was unsuccessful. For instance, she prayed earnestly and begged to love her child. “Please dear Mary, Mother of God, make me love my baby” (34). Moreover, James starts questioning his relationship with Materia. He states, “…the staring zombie he married. Why had he married her?” (34) James’ questions further develop a barrier between them. Another incident, which provokes this division between them, is when he stops sleeping with her and thus spends less time with her. “He began sleeping on a cot by the kitchen stove…” (24). Moreover he was reluctant when Materia came near him. This is proven when, “…her husband wouldn’t come near her. Got angry if she touched him” (34). James was very angry with Frances as well. Hence, this affected their father daughter relationship. We know this through Mercedes perception when she ponders “Daddy’s love for Lily and his anger at Frances” (189).  As a result, Frances’ behaviour leads to mischievousness and acting out to disguise her love and fear that she will not be loved by her family. “What kind of man disowns his daughter? Frances is a diamond passed from filthy paw to paw but never diminished” (335). Frances’ bad behaviour generates isolation from her family and especially from her father. Lastly, Macdonald also illustrates isolation with other minor characters in the novel. For instance, Teresa, Mr. Mahmouds housekeeper, was secluded from the world partially because of her attachment with Mahmoud. She realizes the situation when Mahmoud accused of her stealing. Teresa says, “ She had forgotten the sweet joys of society…” (349). Therefore, Anne Marie MacDonald introduces many situations where various characters are isolated from one another. These revelations point out many secrets that lie among them.