"Sister Imelda"

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that Edna O'Brien's descriptive writing style in the short story "Sister Imelda" is seen in her characterizations of the narrator, her best friend Baba and the seductive but sad Sister Imelda herself and their various interpersonal conflicts. The author points out that O'Brien takes the reader inside the closed and remote world of an Irish Catholic convent school with its myriad rules, restrictions and joyless routines. The paper relates that the themes of the book are (1) Sister Imelda's lesbianism, (2) honoring one's feelings even if doing so should disappoint others and (3) the importance of facing oneself and others with honesty and courage.

From the Paper:

"From the beginning, it is clear that the narrator is fascinated and infatuated with Sister Imelda. All the girls notice her and make comments about her. According to Baba "her eyes were like blackberries" and "with makeup Imelda would be a cinch." The narrator wants to know all about Sister Imelda, especially after they become special friends, more so than the usual teacher and student. As she asks her one day, "Sister, did you ever ride a motorbicycle [sic]?..." To the narrator, Sister Imelda is fascinating, yet not quite real."

More papers on "Sister Imelda":

• Research Paper # 94788 : "Sister Faustina and the Devine Mercy"
• Book Review # 145916 : "The Girl in Theodore Dreiser's "Sister Carrie"
• Poem Review # 75397 : "Lost Sister"

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