Imagine having a loved one die in an accident that a close friend or family member was involved with. Along with the grief that comes with losing someone important to you, you'd probably be tempted to blame the other person involved for what happened. As it does in Billie Jo's life, tragedy can cloud our perception, put up walls between family and friends, and cause others to cast judgment on what should or shouldn't have been done—and in Out of the Dust, blame and guilt arise from the roles Billie Jo and Daddy play in Ma's death, changing their relationship.
Imagine having a loved one die in an accident that a close friend or family member was involved with. Along with the grief that comes with losing someone important to you, you'd probably be tempted to blame the other person involved for what happened. As it does in Billie Jo's life, tragedy can cloud our perception, put up walls between family and friends, and cause others to cast judgment on what should or shouldn't have been done—and in Out of the Dust, blame and guilt arise from the roles Billie Jo and Daddy play in Ma's death, changing their relationship.
Questions About Guilt and Blame
- Do you think people are right to blame Billie Jo for the accident? Why or why not?
- What role does blame play in Billie Jo and Daddy's struggle to communicate?
- We know Billie Jo's perspective on the accident because we're reading her account of it, but what about Daddy? What are his feelings regarding the accident, and how does he respond to it?
- According to Miss Freeland, who and/or what caused the Dust Bowl's conditions? Do some research on the Dust Bowl and how it came to be. What factors are involved that cause certain events or people to be blamed?
Chew on This
In the end, Ma's accident paves the way for a stronger relationship between Billie Jo and her father.
While Daddy originally accuses Ma of not knowing anything about farming, her death causes him to reconsider some of her suggestions about how to run the farm.