CHAPTER 20

Summary

Patty awakes in the reformatory and daydreams about, one day, visiting AntonÂ’s parents in Germany. The morning bell sounds and she and her roommate, Mavis head down to eat breakfast.

Patty returns to her room after breakfast and Miss Laud, notifies her that Ruth has come to visit. Ruth brought Patty her ring, from Anton, some fried chicken and ginger snaps. Patty asks Ruth if she knows what is wrong with her, since her parents do not love her and she always gets into trouble. Ruth assures Patty that there is nothing wrong with her and that she loves her. She tells Patty that her parents are not good people and that they are the problem, not Patty.

Notes

This chapter is very important because Patty finally learns that she is not a problem; it is her parents that are the bad people. Patty tells Ruth that she still wishes her parents will love her one-day. Ruth tells Patty that things are not going to change with her parents and that she should not waste her time trying so hard for her parents to show emotion that they never will. Ruth assures Patty that she is a very genuine person and will do wonderful things with her life. She encourages Patty not to give up school and not to run away; instead she inspires her to return home after her sentence is over, finish her schooling and be anything she wants to be.

Ruth tells Patty that she loves her “the most” (220). This means the world to Patty. It seems that Patty has always known, in a way, that Ruth loved her; however now that Ruth has admitted to loving Patty, her inhibitions seem to be cleared and she seems to feel like she has value.

Ruth gives Patty back her ring and Patty’s faith and hope in herself is restored. When Patty gets her ring back, she kisses it and states that she feels “like a good person” (222). Patty realizes the truth that has been suppressed within her: she is a good person and she does not feel bad about anything she did or what people think of her; she realizes how good she is and that becomes very important to her.

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