Julian and his mother are less Thelma and Louise than Norman and Mrs. Bates. Their fragmented family (no dad) plays out in a fragmented South (newly integrated), which makes "Everything That Rises Must Converge" a whole mess of drama. Julian longs to be the man of the house, but he admits that he'll never make a name for himself. And who gets the worst of his frustration and angst? You always hurt the ones you love.
Questions About Family
- Do you think Julian is justified in his actions toward his mother?
- How might their relationship have been different if Julian hadn't gone to college?
- Is Julian's mother is a good mother? Is Julian a good son?
- How would you compare the family dynamic between Julian and his mother and Carver and his mother?
Chew on This
Try on an opinion or two, start a debate, or play the devil’s advocate.
Julian thinks his mother lives in a fantasy world, but he's more deluded than she is.
Julian is jealous of his mother because she has done more with her life than he will ever do with his.