Chapter 21:
The Loophole of Retreat
Summary: In this chapter Linda was taken to hide in a small shed provided for her at her grandmother's house. The shed was infested with rodents and insects but it was here that she stayed day and night for several long months. During this time she could see and hear her children as they played outside and inside the house, but was unable to communicate to them. She suffered many illnesses and even had to watch as Dr. Flint tried to bribe her whereabouts from her children who, at the time, knew nothing.
Importance: Linda's patience and endurance were tested to their limits in this chapter, which is why it is so important. As her children came within such close ranges of her, she had to fight every fiber of her being to avoid talking to them, something that, for a mother, was extremely hard for her to do. She wanted nothing more than to keep in contact with them, but at this point in time doing so would jeopardize her own safety as well as her children's and the lives of all those who aided her.
Connection to Theme: Linda knew all too well what was in store for her and all those associated with her escape if she revealed her hiding place to her children. She had seen it countless times before what had waited for those who escaped but were caught before reaching their freedom. She learned this through years of psychological abuse and did not want to become a victim of it.
Is this an authentic picture of the crawl space where Linda was kept? Do you have a source for the picture?
ReplyDeleteAlso, the book states she stayed there for 7 years, not a few months as your post says. Am I missing something?