"The Instinct for Bliss"

Paper Summary:

The paper discusses the relationship between Frances Waythorn and her daughter, Athena as they head out for a retreat at a Navajo reservation. The imagery and occurences on the trip that define and strain their relationship are examined, along with cultural elements of their constant misunderstanding of one another. It was written for a women in literature class and has a feminine bias.

From the Paper:

"Frances Waythorn would have less trouble finding her bliss if reality would just stop butting in. As Frances tries to reorganize her life after divorce, the rebellion of her daughter drags her back into the truth of her situation. While Frances sees her daughter Athena's attire and behavior as a result of her bad parenting, Athena's reasoning for her actions and clothing are primarily to grab her mother's attention. A sharp contrast to their familial uncommunicative relationship is life on the Navajo reservation. As Frances and Athena attempt to reconnect at a retreat while learning to dye fabric, their differences and quarrels are offset by the serene, organic lifestyle of the Navajo women. Through a series of physical and emotional battles and a contrived absence of men, Frances comes to term with her situation and accepts her daughter, not as the cause of her divorce, but as her child."

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