Chapter 13 Summary and Analysis

Florence sees a different version of the South as she looks out of the bus window on her way from Memphis to Oxford. After the taxi driver takes her to Miz Arvella's dorm, Florence is amazed by the woman's insistence upon repeating everything she says several times. Miz Arvella shows Florence to her room, and after washing up, Florence returns downstairs so Miz Arvella can explain her duties which consist of checking the girls in, keeping track of the late records, chasing boys out of the lounge at midnight and locking the doors. Florence decides to analyze Miz Arvella's echolalia since she has to endure it, but her theories all collapse on the first day of school when the dorm is invaded by girls and mothers of all social ranks who also repeat their words. Once the girls are all signed...