Selfishness

" Pauline kept this order, this beauty, for herself, a private world, and never introduced it into her storefront, a private world, and never introduced it into her storefront, or to her children." - p. 128

It's interesting how the story begins to revolve around Mrs. Breedlove and Cholly. The novel begins to unfold Pauline's characteristics and her personality. Before, she was presented as this angry women, who was on a mission from the Lord to make her husband suffer from her sins. Yet; there is a completely different aspect to her. In this section of the novel that elaborates on Pauline, the reader discovers that Pauline is capable of love and passion, but just not for her own family. Pauline invests her time and devotion into the household of another family and gives them respect and love. Yet; this passion for beauty and organization is deprived from her own home. Pauline seems to lack that internal motherly instinct, and neglects her home and her children. Not only does she neglect her family and their home, but she doesn't wish to share her happiness with her own children. Instead, she devotes all of her time to escaping from her own home, and living through another family's life.

From this insight into Pauline's viewpoint on life, readers are able to understand the Breedlove's family better. How will much longer can Pauline linger in her "private world" and neglect her family before she completely loses them?