Comment on Language and Meaning

The language of the novel is tinged with a Southern flavor, and its tone reflects the attitudes of the time in which it was set: Arkansas in the 1940’s.

In this novel, language is used to show character. Patty speaks in the casual vernacular of a child, yet she sprinkles her dialogue with the sophisticated words she memorizes from the dictionary. This shows her desire to stand out, but also highlights her difference, which isolates her from others.