Thursday, May 30, 2013

In Chapter 9, what is the name of the woman who helps Brent build the whirligig?

If you are referring to the female artist Brent met in Weeksboro, Maine, the answer is that the author never reveals the name of the woman.


Both Brent and the artist share an intimate heart-to-heart talk at the artist's home, but they never exchange names. So, how does the artist help Brent? Basically, her help is largely psychological in nature. She helps Brent to see that his art is meaningful and that he is still a good person who has much happiness to give the world. She encourages Brent to forgive himself and to understand that everyone makes mistakes.


After Brent confesses his part in Lea's death, the artist demonstrates her support for his project by allowing him to mount his finished whirligig on a metal pole on her property. Later, despite her invitation, Brent does not stay for dinner but politely bids farewell to the artist. While preparing for his trip home, he feels 'oddly buoyant' because his confession to the artist has been emotionally cathartic. Her understanding and compassion has allowed him to believe that, even though the guilt will never fully go away, his future need not be dark and hopeless. He realizes that he can continue Lea's legacy, and he contemplates planting a whirligig in every state in America in her memory.

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