Adversaries-Growing Up Themes

Frankie Lennon, the author of the novel, The Mee Street Chronicles, identifies two major Growing Up themes in the story, "Adversaries" that most people are able to relate. The main Character, Frankie is faced with religion and death.

Frankie is faced with contradiction of religion when her Auntie catches her holding an opaque blue marble in her hand. Frankie did not want to show her because, “Auntie didn’t hold with playing games. She said they were sinful idleness and a waste of time.” On the contrary Frankie’s dad believed it was ok for her to play with marbles. One more time her aunt asked her, “You been playing with marbles have ya?” And in spite of the fear, Frankie responds, “Daddy lets me”. Wrong answer, her aunt begins to scream, “I ain’t yo Daddy and I ain’t having any sass from you!” Then she proceeds,” An them marbles you playin with! Sinful idleness! That’s why you didn’t come when I called you. Too busy playing with marbles! Just cause yo daddy lets you play them games, you think it’s fine and dandy…I’m warning ya. Menfolk’ll set yo feet on the path of sin, and then, Lord! Lord! They up and leave ya.” Her auntie obviously has different views on religion. She believes that games make children sassy, ignorant and to disobey the adults. But, on the other hand she believes that men also put women in the path of sin. This way of thinking was not practiced in Frankie’s family. Therefore, it was an eye opener.

At the beginning of Adversaries Frankie experienced the feeling of a loved one’s death. She did not understand why her grandmother was leaving her. With agony she screamed, No! Come back!” But the sad reality that she did not understand was that her grandmother was dead. She later remembered that Evelyne told her that she overheard her mother telling her grandmother that Frankie’s Grandmother had passed away. For the first time she was introduced to the sad reality of life. This time she sensed that she couldn’t use magic spells to make her return. This drastic change and pain made her transition from a child to a young girl.

In my opinion, I do not believe it was fair for her auntie to not let her enjoy her childhood and play with the rest of the children in her neighborhood. On the other hand I am able to understand that her auntie had lots of responsibility to take care of her therefore she had to scare Frankie and tell her that it was a sin to play with marbles. I believe that at the age of four child should not be told that her loved one is dead because he she will probably suffer. I think that her mother made the right choice telling her that she would never come back. Even though the transition was a bit crucial she was able to experience reality and truth.