How we cite our quotes:
Quote #1
Meridian was conscious always of a feeling of guilt, even as a child. Yet she did not know of what she might be guilty. (1.4.1)
Nobody likes to feel like this. You could attribute to this to a few things—her mother's resentment of her children, the oppression she feels as a person of color, or her mistreatment at the hands of unsavory dudes. Meridian has had a crazy life—she should write a book about it—oh, wait…
Quote #2
It was for stealing her mother's serenity, for shattering her mother's emerging self, that Meridian felt guilty [...] though she was unable to understand how this could possibly be her fault. (1.4.9)
Well, that explains it. Mrs. Hill was originally a lot like her daughter, Meridian. She was a proudly independent woman eager to fulfill her dreams. Like Meridian, she only married and had children out of naivety and insecurity. Although Meridian doesn't entirely understand this yet, she'll come to understand these struggles all too well.
Quote #3
"I never said either side was innocent or guilty, just ignorant. They've been a part of it, we've been a part of it, everybody's been a part of it for a long time." (1.6.20)
While Mrs. Hill has a narrow view of history, Mr. Hill is obsessed with how the past affects the present. In his view, there are no good guys and no bad guys—everyone deserves a share of the blame. Mrs. Hill would do well to take this lesson and apply it to her life, if you ask us.
Quote #4
"Do you forgive me?" [...]
"Forgive you for what?" It had not occurred to her to blame him. (1.7.13)
This makes less sense than the series finale of Lost! Did Meridian ever ask Eddie for sex? Did Meridian impregnate herself? Like many women—and her mother—Meridian has internalized the woman-shaming mentality so common in society.
Quote #5
The thought of murdering her own child eventually frightened her. To suppress it she conceived, quite consciously, of methods of killing herself. (1.8.3)
Meridian can finally understand where her mom was coming from. For Meridian, her son has become a symbol of her imprisonment within marriage. It doesn't take long for those emotions to shift into straight-up resentment, which isn't a good thing for anyone involved.
Quote #6
She thought of her mother as being worthy of this maternal history, and of herself as belonging to an unworthy minority, for which there was no precedent. (1.12.59)
Although Mrs. Hill hated being a mother as much as her daughter does, Meridian has somehow convinced herself that her mom was perfect. Sure, you have to give mom some credit—she worked really hard for her family. But we call 'em like we see 'em, and we don't see much difference between these two women.
Quote #7
Meridian found [...] that her thoughts turned with regularity and intensity to her mother, on whose account she endured wave after wave of an almost primeval guilt. (1.13.10)
At times, Meridian uses her political activism to escape from her life. This actually raises an interesting question—does Meridian ever see her parents again after leaving for Saxon? Does she feel ashamed for leaving them, as she left Eddie Jr.? Regardless, Meridian should take comfort in the fact that she's fighting for what's right.
Quote #8
It never occurred to her that her mother's and her grandmother's extreme purity of life was compelled by necessity. They had not lived in an age of choice. (1.15.41)
Meridian—and her generation as a whole—has been given more choices and opportunities than the previous generation. Some, like Anne-Marion, embrace these opportunities without giving them much thought. Meridian, on the other hand, is wracked with guilt that she might be squandering such a precious gift.
Quote #9
She [...] sat down to write each letter as if some heavy object had been attached to her knees, forcing them under her desk, as she wrote with the most galling ferocity, out of guilt and denial and rage. (1.15.48)
Meridian and Anne-Marion have an odd relationship. At first, they're the best of friends, confiding in each other and joining the Civil Rights Movement together. When Meridian gets sick, however, Anne-Marion abandons her friend out of fear. In an even stranger twist, Anne-Marion spends the rest of her life sending nasty letters to Meridian on a constant basis. It's not until this moment that we realize that Anne-Marion is ashamed of herself but doesn't know how to express it.
Quote #10
i want to put an end to guilt
i want to put an end to shame
whatever you have done my sister
(my brother) know i wish to forgive you (3.31.12)
This poem, written by Meridian after visiting the women's prison, represents her letting go of her shame and guilt. She has just met a young girl who killed her child and sees her own reflection in the sad, angry inmate. After a lifetime of carrying a heavy burden of guilt, Meridian is finally packing light.