(one code per order). Just as the time and location shift among numerous places and decades, the limited third-person narrative point of view shifts among multiple people. Blueblack. A death in the family hits one character "in waves. The Vanishing Half is written in a more conventional tight third person, shifting between characters and generations primarily Desiree and Stella and their daughters, one "blueblack" dark, one blonde, one smart and grounded, the other spoiled and lost. In The Vanishing Half, Bennett also draws on another, even more widespread literary tradition: Twins. Spanning nearly half a century, from the 1940s to the 1990s, the novel focuses on twin sisters, Desiree and Stella Vignes, who were raised in Mallard, Louisiana, a (fictional) small town conceived of by their great-great-great grandfather after being freed by the father who once owned him as an exclusive place for light-skinned blacks like him. [3], Bennett explores the issue of colorism throughout the book. The residents of the town all possess fair complexions, light-colored eyes, and . Desiree has fled an abusive marriage to a Black man and brought her daughter back to Mallard, while Stella is passing for White, is married to a businessman, has a daughter with him, and lives in California. Best summary PDF, themes, and quotes. No, so black she looked purple. From speaking with certain intonation to being numb to Black suffering, whiteness is a collection of societally agreed-upon ideas that those in power decided were prerequisites for having power. 2 pages at 400 words per page) As she pretends to be white, she is welcomed into the department store and is treated well by the stores employees. Brit Bennett 's intriguing new novel, The Vanishing Half, amplifies the trope of the "tragic mulatto" (a self-loathing mixed-race American) by sharing the dilemma of "passing" with identical. The novel progressively reveals more and more intimacies, including the many layers of each character alongside their relationships. Read the Study Guide for The Vanishing Half. [citation needed], The novel debuted at number one on The New York Times fiction best-seller list for the week ending June 6, 2020. Always overshadowed by Desiree, Stella craves a life apart from her sister. Completely absorbing. Deep characterization. The villagers are proud of their Caucasian features and coloring, and most of them could pass for White. Chapter-by-chapter summaries and multiple sections of expert analysis, The ultimate resource for assignments, engaging lessons, and lively book discussions. HBO has purchased the film rights to The Vanishing Half with the intention of creating a limited TV series from the material. "The Vanishing Half Characters". Her voice is assured, her images and observations rich. The Vanishing Half, published in June 2020, is the second novel by author Brit Bennett. Thanks for exploring this SuperSummary Study Guide of The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett. When Blake and Stella are helping Kennedy move into a new apartment in Venice, Stella compares the upscale flat with the bare-bones place where she and "her roommate" lived in New Orleans . Soooofirst I gave this book 4.5 stars. Like The Mothers, this novel keeps you turning pages not just to find out what happens or how it happened but to find out more about who these people are. Having split from her sister, Desiree started a relationship with a dark-skinned African American, Sam Winston. Flamboyant Desiree wants to become an actress, while quiet Stella wants to be a teacher. This book was just ok. 3.5 stars. They are fleeing Desirees abusive husband. You were supposed to be safe in Mallard . Identical twins Desiree and Stella Vignes spend their childhood in the small rural village of Mallard, Louisiana, in the early 1950s. She is a National Book Foundation 5 Under 35 honoree, and her debut novel The Mothers was a New York Times bestseller. Jude starts a job at the theatre in order to befriend Kennedy, hoping to eventually meet Stella. Over time, its prejudices deepened as its population became lighter and lighter, "like a cup of coffee steadily diluted with cream." After marrying her former boss, she becomes the pampered wife of a rich man in Brentwood, California. "[16] The Washington Post called The Vanishing Half a "fierce examination of contemporary passing and the price so many pay for a new identity". Much praise was also placed on the story, with the Financial Times calling it Fluent and openhearted and the New York Times stating that it was an ambitious meditation on race and identity.. Renew your subscription to regain access to all of our exclusive, ad-free study tools. So it wasnt a surprise that when twin sisters Desiree and Stella Vignes run away at sixteen, that their futures would take them on journeys seeking their identities. [4] Jude, who is the daughter of the main character, is bullied for the darker color of her skin in school and is called names such as "Tar Baby" and "Blueskin. Part V: Pacific Cove (1985/1988) - Part VI: Places (1986). You'll also receive an email with the link. [9][10], Domestic abuse is another themes of the book as it manifests in the main character Desiree's struggles with abuse from her darker-skinned husband Sam. Her second novel The Vanishing Half was an instant #1 New York Times bestseller. Kennedy is enraged and confused. Irritated, Stella returns to Mallard, wanting to convince Desiree to tell Jude to stop. Though Desiree promises Jude to leave Mallard eventually, the two remain there for many years. Here Stella feels secure, hidden from her true culture and roots. These notes were contributed by members of the GradeSaver community. The Vignes girls have big dreams for their futures. The Vanishing Half won the Goodreads Choice Award for Historical Fiction and was included on the longlist for the National Book Awards. Although the first 1/3 of the book was slow, once we start to see how two generations diverge and they connect later on, I became invested in each person's individual journeys as they grappled with race, loneliness, colorism, abuse, motherhood, and a sense of identity. These chapters are comprised of smaller fragmented divisions. While catering in L.A., Jude encounters Stella from afar, and talks with Kennedy. After several months, Jude finally corners Stella outside the theatre, and tells her she is Desiree's daughter. The Vanishing Half enters into the cannon of racial passing novels, upending the conventions of the genre and exploring themes of racial identity, family, belonging, and grief. Theres racism here, a violent incident against a man, witnessed by his young twin daughters, and more trauma for one of the girls than we want to imagine. Contact us During her time in California, she accidentally catches a glimpse of Stella and meets Stellas daughter, Kennedy. The Vignes twin sisters will always be identical. Not affiliated with Harvard College. The novel explores the falseness and hypocrisy motivated by racial tensions. Throughout her life, Stella remembers how Desiree stayed close to her during the funeral and answered for Stella when someone spoke to her, as though they were a single person. LitCharts Teacher Editions. They get married and have a daughter named Kennedy who eventually drops out of college to pursue a career in acting. She encounters Kennedy again while attending a play. But after growing up together in a small, southern black community and running away at age sixteen, it's not just the shape of their daily lives that is different as adults, it's everything: their families, their communities, their racial identities. One day, Stella wasn't paying attention because she was thinking about how thrilling it was whenever she pretended to be white. Writing a dirty letter to a white woman. Four years later, her second, The Vanishing Half, more than lives up to her early promise. They go into the Maison Blanche, the department store whose name means white house. In the past, Desiree once nervously entered the store knowing that she didnt belong there because she is Black, and a security guard quickly asked her to leave. By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from SparkNotes and verify that you are over the age of 13. Seems like the whole world is reading The Vanishing Half so I'm not going to do a summary but this book is so powerful. Whilst Desiree is stuck in the same time she grew up and is hunted by her abusive husband, Stella has managed to eave that life behind and instead assume the position of a white woman. Winner for Best Historical Fiction (2020). Free shipping for many products! This passage occurs in Chapter Two of the novel, after Leon Vigness funeral. Renews April 25, 2023 She becomes distraught, however, when a black family moves in across the street. Identical twins Desiree and Stella Vignes live in Mallard, Louisiana in a community of light-skinned Black people. I wanted it to either be a more focused book with half the plot or to really go big and have more about all the characters. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. However, Stella disappears shortly thereafter only to be living her life in secret as a white woman. Despite their bond, their fathers death is the reason Stella ended up leaving her sister. 2. Kennedy internalizes the truth of her heritage as a joke, because if it were true, it would mean she had gone through her whole life not knowing something fundamental about herself. Created by the original team behind SparkNotes, LitCharts are the world's best literature guides. The novel delves into the intersectionality in the lives of black women, transgender and gay communities. You can help us out by revising, improving and updating The novel tells the story of two twins from Mallard, Louisiana, one of whom decides to pass as white. Although she believes herself to be the more venturesome twin, Desiree ends up returning to Mallard with her daughter. At least this time the book I chose is a great winner! During the same year Desiree is moving back to Mallard, Stella is living with Blake and their daughter, Kennedy, in a wealthy all-white neighborhood called Palace Estates. SparkNotes Plus subscription is $4.99/month or $24.99/year as selected above. Chapter-by-chapter summaries and multiple sections of expert analysis, The ultimate resource for assignments, engaging lessons, and lively book discussions. Loretta later ends their relationship, when she hears Kennedy call her daughter a racial slur. Struggling with distance learning? The scene then shifts to 1986, when Desiree returns home after escaping her marriage. Fans of novels such as Alice Walker's The Color Purple, Kathryn Stockett's The Help, or The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd will almost certainly enjoy this one as well, as will those interested . LitCharts makes it easy to find quotes by chapter, character, and theme. This Study Guide consists of approximately 43 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of The Vanishing Half. In addition, Bennett addresses the devastations of abandonment (also a prominent theme in The Mothers) through the particular pain of a twin losing her other half. The Vanishing Half study guide contains a biography of Brit Bennett, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. It's a rare gift to be able to dig beyond the dirt and gossip of lives viewed superficially to get to the inner human story, to delve beyond the sensational into difficult issues, and to view flawed characters with understanding rather than judgment or condemnation. Distraught, however, Stella disappears shortly thereafter only to be living her life in secret as white... Coloring, and theme and tells her she is Desiree 's daughter catches a glimpse of Stella meets... It easy to find quotes by Chapter, character, and her debut the... Links are at the theatre in order to befriend Kennedy, hoping to eventually Stella! 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