IRONWEED (Post #3)

“It’s fine that you’re off the drink. You’ve got a strong look about you today.”
“Just a false face for Halloween.”
“Don’t run yourself down. Have faith” (42).

The characters in this story are very dependent on somebody else to make them feel confident. They always put themselves down, like in the above quote, event though most of them are turning their lives around. But, the one person whose life still revolves around alcohol and being a bum is Sandra. She refuses to let Francis, Pee Wee, and the gang help her. She just lays in the street where she was in the last chapter and starts to freeze to death. All she asks them for is wine or something to drink. As I read more and more, I find out that each of the characters, which are bums, actually have a lot of talent going to waste. In this chapter, I found out that Helen used to be a singer and could also play piano very well. She was on her way to graduating with a classical education in music from Vassar, but then her father died and her life just went downhill from there.

“Nobody suffers like a lover left behind,” Helen said.
“Well that’s a crock, Francis said. “Lots suffer ain’t ever been in love even once.”
“They don’t suffer like those who have,” said Helen (46).

I think I like this quote a lot because I can kind of relate to Sandra about behind left behind by someone you love. Earlier in the book, I found out that Sandra used to be a full time whore but now, I am learning what really went on. She used to throw “love parties” as she called them and she would play with a lot of guys’ hearts. But then, she had broken so many hearts that only strangers would get with her. But then she met yet another bum named Freddy and they fell in love with each other and had a good relationship together until one day, he went somewhere and she didn’t. So, she was left behind and turned her life into what it is now, nothing.