Family Relationships

The author characterizes the relationship between Flavia and her sisters as one defined by the coexistence of both conflict and love. When Ophelia leaves for her honeymoon, Flavia uses words associated with both love and hate to show readers that both elements exist in her relationship with her sisters, but overall they love each other and the conflict is their means of expressing love. She says that she and Ophelia "had waged war upon each other since the day she had overturned (Flavia's) pram " (16). The words "waged war" (l6) and the action of overturning a baby's pram shows conflict. Then in the next sentence, Flavia asks, "what would I do without her?" (I6). This question shows affection and that Flavia needs and enjoys the strife she has with her sister. She has fond memories of their war. She echos this sentiment by expressing both the...