Blandine's Refusal to Leave
In Tess Gunty’s novel The Rabbit
Hutch, the Blandine criticizes Vacca Vale for its corruption and
failures yet has no desire to leave. This leads readers to question why
Blandine wants to stay in a town that has continuously failed her and left her
orphaned. This argument is brought to life in the novel when Jack asks,” [i]f
you hate what's going on here so much? Why don’t you move someplace else?”
(Gunty, 216) to which Blandine responds “I am never, ever leaving Vacca Vale,”
(217). The author uses this argument to force readers into wondering why
Blandine feels so strongly about staying.
It is clear throughout the novel
that Blandine is a extremely smart and well-read individual who enjoys reading
Mystic books that focus on tragedy. I think that from this knowledge we can
develop the idea that Blandine doesn’t feel trapped into staying but feels responsible
for staying to make a change. We see this idea take form through her love for
Mystic Women’s resilience and stubbornness. I think that Blandine idolizes
these women for their ability to suffer and persevere through the suffering to
continue to fight for what they love and believe in.
Blandine’s been orphaned her whole
life however Vacca Vale has always been home. Blandine has been failed by Vacca
Vale because of its corruption. Blandine disdains the corruption of Zorn and
the people who profited off the exploitation of the people of Vacca Vale. It is
clear that Blandine sees the Valley Project as another opportunity for Vacca
Vale to be exploited in the name of good. She feels responsible for this
corruption as someone who is able to see the issue and the propaganda that it
is causing in the community. Blandine wants to stay in Vacca Vale to help
people realize that they are still being used for the upper classes' gain and
wants to fight for the orphaned community of Vacca Vale. She recognizes that
the oppression and orphanage of the community keep the poor separated and
isolated from one another which stops the ability for change. While she
struggles to bring people together and only attempts it some with her
conversation with Joan and her roommates. Blandine wants to build a better
Vacca Vale where the oppressed aren’t being misled and used for the rich's
gain. She displays that she wants to be an agent of change for Vacca Vale by placing
the voodoo dolls at the dinner. In this event, she shows her willingness to put
herself in danger to cause change for Vacca Vale and in turn represents her
love for the community and her dreams of it no longer being orphaned from the rich.
I agree with the idea that Blandine doesn't feel trapped in staying. More so, she stays because of her stubbornness to bring awareness to the harm of the proposed developments and maintain the nature of the valley, which translates to her taking responsibility to accomplish her goals. Blandine's commitment to staying in Vacca Vale doesn't waver in the slightest when interrogated by Jack. When they are arguing in Pinky's residence, Blandine's response is, “I am never, ever leaving Vacca Vale" after Jack questions her on why she doesn't move out (217). Blandine's quick and simple response characterizes her resolve to stay committed to her mission in Vacca Vale. Her resilience explains her close connection to the Mystics, especially the stories of Hildegard, because her records contain great feats of resilience. I wonder how much of her stubbornness and resilience (and I question which word is more correct throughout the story) is due to her desire to preserve the valley, and how much is due to her being fostered and projecting herself to be like Hildegard?
ReplyDeleteThis post really highlighted complexities to Blandine’s conscious decision to stay in Vacca Vale. It seems contradictory that Blandine would want to stay in a place she criticizes so much. Blandine’s desire to stay in Vacca Vale speaks to her authenticity. When reflecting on her beliefs about systemic injustice Blandine states, “[i]n order for her life to be considered ethical, thinks Blandine, she must try to dismantle systemic injustice. But she doesn’t know how to do that…She always knew that she was too small and stupid to lead a revolution, but she had hoped she could at least imagine one” (Gunty 30). These early reflections in the novel signify Blandine’s dedication to leading an authentic and morally just life by any means necessary. Her commitment to her ideology is supported by her behavior and dedication to thwarting the Vacca Vale revitalization plan. Blandine doesn’t want to leave Vacca Vale because that would be out of line with her beliefs. Blandine knows that if she sees injustice, she must do everything in her power to put an end to it, otherwise she is just as complicit as the perpetrators.
ReplyDeleteFurthermore, this post made me think deeply about Blandine’s negative past in Vacca Vale, and why she doesn’t use this as an excuse to escape. Blandine also finds empowerment in the strength of rising above, found in her admiration of the mystics. She names herself after “a teenaged martyr who stoically endured public torture at the hands of the Romans” (Gunty 140). Blandine’s idealization of this figure may explain why she is content with staying in a place that caused her so much pain. She finds it empowering to endure such obstacles, and use it to rise above.