Write a polished 3+ page essay on the novel Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson in response to one of the following prompts.
Whichever topic you choose, be sure to argue for a thesis that goes beyond the obvious and analyzes the significance of one of the novel’s themes. A strong thesis should be clear, specific, interesting, and not wishy-washy–and it should be positioned clearly at the end of the introduction (as well as implicit throughout the essay, since it is the POINT of the essay). Your argument should be pursued in well-constructed, substantial paragraphs, which should be linked by transitions (especially at the start of each new paragraph. Within these paragraphs, you should provide evidence in the form of quotations to support the major claims that advance your thesis. And you should include a conclusion that does more than just sum up and restate–for example, by considering the implications of your argument or answering the question, So what?
1. Housekeeping–Given the title of this novel, what is Robinson saying about the nature of “home?” Is a house a home, or is home an emotional concept rather than a place? Is there any such thing as home at all?
2. Self and Society–We all constantly make decisions about the balance between our individual desires and the pressures of fitting in with others. Ruth and Lucille grow up and apart as they negotiate this territory. What is Robinson saying about the challenges of balancing self and society?
3. Families, Siblings, Mothers and Daughters–Choosing any of those versions of this topic, analyze what Robinson seems to be saying about the nature of these complex relationships. Another variation: Why does Robinson construct this extended family the way she does–with male characters almost entirely absent? What is she saying about the nature of relationships among girls and women?
4. Faith and Religion–Housekeeping is rich with allusions to biblical stories, like Noah, Cain and Abel, Jesus, Lot’s wife, etc. Why? Is the book ultimately “religious”–and, if so, how?
5. Water–This book is full of images of water–the lake, floods, snow, rain, etc. Ruth even says that every drink of water reminds her of her family’s history. Trace this imagery and analyze its significance. If water flows, cleanses, nourishes, drowns, and destroys, how do these functions symbolically affect this family?
6. Past, Present, and Memory–Considering the temporal structure and narrative structure of this book, what does Robinson seem to be saying about how the past (including, perhaps, the family past beyond an individual’s own past) impacts the present and future?
7. Nature and the Landscape–Many characters in this book are affected by the desire to roam–and to do so in a particular and harsh landscape. Why? What does the book seem to suggest about humans’ place in nature and/or the landscapes that surround us?
