Lessons Learned in Kate O’Brien’s Land of Spices Essay -- Land Spices

Lessons Learned in Kate OBriens visit of SpicesKate OBriens Land of Spices is a easily read especially if the bookworm is from a catholic school upbringing. The tommyrots contents complete with the antics of the girls and the lack of patience in the siss is recognizable from memories drawn on similar events. The nuns softer emotions were hidden away from the students and only their hard-heartedness unequivocal in the schools classrooms. In sixth grade during the angle of dip of 1963 after President Kennedy was shot and killed in Dallas, Texas, a Dominican sister was seen at school with tears in her eyes. At this moment the acknowledgement descended upon the enrolled that there was flesh and blood under that habit and not an extraterrestrial being. OBrien addresses Catholicism, homosexuality and love in her novel with creativity and realism for the times. On a negative note, the liberal use of the French linguistic communication is a reminder that this book was written with the rich and cultured psyche in mind and becomes aggravating to this unenlightened one. In reading the get out from The Land of Spices by Kate OBrien contained in The Penguin throw of Irish belles-lettres, this reader is at once aware of the descriptive words with which Helen (the eventual(prenominal) sacred Mother of the novel) depicts her drive, Henry bow valet. She presents him in the passage as a man who is very beautifuldifferent from other menwith curly, crafty hair and eyes that shone like stars and goes on further to say that his present grew more beautiful as one drew nearer to it. 11 Perhaps, this fair(prenominal) portrayal is a less than subtle hint into Henry Archers being for in revealing him as a man with a feminine countenance and inevitably finding him locked in a loving embrace... ...ontrol to temperance to love. Despite the rocky relationship between Helen and her father she inadvertently intoxicateed patience from him as he continues to love her contempt her attitude and she in turn awaits Annas realization of her interest and love. Helen and Anna learn temperance in their everyday dealings with Mother Mary Andrew. The superior lessons are those of dedication and commitment as Helen in the role of Reverend Mother becomes the best nun she can be despite a decision made under duress. Notes1 From The Penguin Book of Irish Fiction p. 475.2 From The Penguin Book of Irish Fiction p. 475.3 From The Penguin Book of Irish Literature p.485.4 OBrien, Kate. The Land of Spices, p.20.5 OBrien, Kate. The Land of Spices, p.252.6 OBrien, Kate. The Land of Spices, p104.7 OBrien, Kate. The Land of Spices, p. 110.