When hard times come, it's easy to point fingers at people, curl up in a ball of greed, and think of life as an every man for himself kind of deal. The Dust Bowl and Ma's accident both represent hard situations that cause Billie Jo, Daddy, and the rest of the community to react to each other in positive and negative ways. One thing Out of the Dust demonstrates, though, is that hard circumstances and tragedies don't necessarily have to end badly. In fact, they can cause people to show compassion to each other, and help them unite amongst the difficulty.
Questions About Compassion and Forgiveness
- How do the dust storms cause people to show compassion to each other?
- How do her personal struggles teach Billie Jo to be empathetic toward others?
- What about her journey away from home helps Billie Jo to forgive her father?
- What role does Louise play in the process of Billie Jo and Daddy's healing?
Chew on This
Billie Jo leaving home ultimately helps her and her father to learn to forgive each other.
While it results in many broken families and relationships, the Dust Bowl also draws people closer and helps them to rely on each other.