Chapter 16 Quotes

Quote 1, Chapter 16, Page #264
"She didn't live. She didn't get to be fifty. She would never be fifty."   -Cheryl Strayed

1) Does the quotation relate to a theme? If so, which theme and how does it relate?
It relates to the theme of acceptance. By this point in her life, Cheryl is just now coming to terms with her mother's death. Cheryl's mom, Barbara, didn't grow old as Cheryl expected her to. Cheryl would eventually learn to accept her mom being gone, but it was emotionally exhausting to her.

2) Does the quote characterizes Cheryl, Paul or any other character? If so, in what ways does it characterize?
The quote characterized Cheryl by explicitly expressing what she thought. It showed how strong Cheryl's love for her mom was. Cheryl was at a bad place in her life while thinking that; meaning Cheryl still found time to grieve for her mother when she couldn't for herself.

Quote 2, Chapter 16, Page #273
"I never got to be in the driver's seat of my own life,"  - Barbara Lambrecht

3) Does the quote characterizes Cheryl, Paul or any other character? If so, in what ways does it characterize?
The quote characterizes Cheryl's mom, Barbara. In it, Barbara expresses how she never had control over her life. She felt that in order to do what was right for her future, she had to put her life on the back burner. This showed how strong Barbara was because she dealt with domestic abuse and the uncertainty of teenage motherhood.

4) Does the quote indicate a conflict? If so, what conflict?
The quote signified of Barbara's struggle in her early life. She felt forced to act in ways that she may not have liked. Everything she did, to her, felt like it was molded for a life she wouldn't necessarily chose for herself. Like many women, she carried on, trying her best along the way.