Evelyn tells Bessie, “I rather believe life would be simpler if people said what they thought more often,” although Bessie disagrees (p. 4). What do you feel about this statement? Which woman do you agree with? How does Evelyn demonstrate this opinion throughout the book, and do you think it does, indeed, make her life simpler?
Bessie has developed her ideas from her experience as a woman in the servant class and knows that she has no right to speak up to anyone about what she thinks. Evelyn is a bit of a more confident woman and a free thinker and has more progressive ideas about communicating with others.
Evelyn - the truth always supersedes a lie. One lie leads to another and another and you lose the trust of those close to you.
I agree with Evelyn. Life gets complicated with people tap dance around what they are really trying to say, and it wastes way more energy than necessary. Life is too short to not get to the point. Yes, I think Evelyn, eventually, demonstrates this opinion in the book, and I think it does make her life simpler. Ultimately, she gets what she wants and she doesn’t have to make things more complicated trying to achieve it.
I agree with Evelyn, but you can’t be stupid about it. Need to use a filter until you feel out the situation. Bessie would probably be thrown in jail for speaking her mind, due to the social class she was born into.
Yes, I agree with Evelyn, to a point. Sometimes there’s nothing to be gained by speaking the truth, and relationships can suffer. Best to think it through, and try to speak the truth with some tact at least.