Introduction
Marilynne Robinson brings us a story of women in her novel, Housekeeping. Most of the characters on the novel are women. Men are not featured in this novel. Robinson sets the novel so that only women are left alone. We are told of the tedious tasks that these women had. We are introduced of Ruth and Lucille, her younger sister. They were brought up by many caretakers. Many questions sprout regarding the mystery of the many caretakers of these girls. Could it be their behavior that made them move from one caretaker to another? All these questions abound, there comes the issue of the relationship that comes between the characters and the characters that are found in the bible. In many occasions, we are shown a picture where bible stories are evident in the illustration. This paper will focus at the relationship of the characters in the Bible and the characters in the Housekeeping novel.
The first relationship between the characters of Housekeeping is that of Ruth in the Bible and Ruth in the novel. We are shown of the lives women. Ruth story of the Bible also revolves around women. We are told about Elimelech, the father-in-law of Ruth and Naomi, the mother-in-law of Ruth. Soon in the bible, Elimelech dies and Naomi is left with her sons and daughters-in-law. When Elimelech died, the sons had not yet married and got married immediately. After they are married, Ruth comes into the picture. In the story of the bible, men die, just like the men in Housekeeping. In housekeeping, we are introduced to the grandmother of Ruth who dies after settling the family in Fingerbone, Idaho. After a short period of time, Edmond Foster dies in a train to the lake. After a while, Helen, the daughter of Edmond, and the mother of Ruth and Lucille die by driving herself to the lake in a borrowed car. After this incident, Ruth and Lucille are left alone to be cared by various caretakers. This is related to Ruth in the Bible who was left alone with her mother-in-law after the husband dies. Ruth in the bible urged her mother-in-law, Naomi that she would go with her wherever she would go, and so the famous phrase ‘where you will go I will go, your people will be my people, your God will be my God’ emanated. In this phrase, we are shown a lonely Ruth who is left without parents. They were together with the sister, Lucille. The sister can be compared to the wife of the brother in-law of Ruth who decided to go back to her people after her husband died too. In Housekeeping, Lucille decided to part with Ruth so that everyone would go on with their lives.
Sisters in housekeeping and brothers in eth bible
There is also some form of relationships between the brothers in the bible and the two sisters in Housekeeping. There are many brothers that we are told in the bible. There is the story of Moses and Aaron. There is a relationship that is seen to be evident in these brothers and that of Ruth and Lucille. Moses is seen to be a stammerer. God wanted to use Moses but he complains that he is not a good public speaker. Aaron was brought so that he could speak on behalf of Moses. But actually, it was Moses whom God sent. In the same way, Ruth is the protagonist in the Housekeeping novel but it is Lucille who speaks on behalf. Lucille protects her sister and speaks on behalf of her. This is the only way that the two stories relate.
Another relationship that comes up and can be related to the story is that of Jacob and Esau in the Bible. The two brothers did not agree on anything. Esau was favored by Isaac the father while Jacob was favored by Rebecca the mother. The relationship comes into evidence when the two brothers part ways. Each one of them goes their own way. This can be related to the parting of Lucille and Ruth in Housekeeping. Lucille went her way because she was tired with the life she had with her sister and therefore wanted her own freedom. This is the way the two brothers related. There are many instances where the two brothers did not agree on many things but there is no relationship that we see in the Housekeeping. Although this is the case, Lucille did not like the way life was taking them in Fingerbone and so decided to leave the place when she was a grown up. This is shown in the way Esau and Jacob did not agree on different perspectives. They finally separated. There are also brothers in the New Testament. These two are Peter and Andrew. The two brothers had different characters that can be compared to Ruth and Lucille. Peter can be compared to Lucille. They were both extroverts and would speak on behalf of their sibling. Ruth of Housekeeping can be compared to Andrew, the brother of Peter in the Bible. They were both strong and silent. This does not mean that that could not talk their issues. They were strong and silent (Robinson 62).
The flood to Noah’s arc
There is the issue of the flood which was common in the town of Fingerbone (Robinson 54). Although this flood did not kill anyone but it used to sweep the town clean. It is like it was used to clean the town. The relationship that comes up here is that the flood in the bile did not destroy where people lived. It could just sweep the town. People would be prepared for the spring time and do everything they could to ensure that they were prepared. In the same breath, Noah’s ark in the Bible was not destroyed by flood. People were safe in the arc. Also, people in arc knew that there would be flood that would destroy the world. They got prepared for the flood. They built the arc so that they would be secured in the arc. The flood in the arc swept the world and all the sinful people were wiped away. Also, the flood in Housekeeping swept the streets and made it cleans.
Nature
There is the presence of nature that is evident in both stories. This is shown and evident in the way the small town of Fingerbone in Idaho was surrounded by mountains. In the same breath, the city of Jerusalem is surrounded by mountains. Also, in the bible, we are told that the Israelites were fishermen because there was the lake and the sea which was nearby. In fact, Jesus himself is seen to have performed many miracles that had fish and lakes associated with the miracles. Just like the city of Jerusalem, Fingerbone was surrounded by mountains and had a nearby lake.
Resurrection and coming back to life
After sometime, there is the coming back to life of the characters in the Housekeeping. After sometime, the sisters meet each other after a long time. Lucille emerges back after a long time living alone. After she emerges, she meets with Ruth and it is as though they are young again. This can be compared to resurrection in the Bible. Jesus was killed and after three days, he resurrected and came back to be with the disciples. They were reunited again as if they were living together again.
Transcendentalism in the novel
There is also some form of transcendentalism in the story. Marilynne was a great transcendentalist in her writing. Transcendentalism was a movement that stressed more on the role that an individual had on the society. The specific principles of transcendentalism include spiritual beliefs, nature or self realization. Transcendentalism is evident in the story in the way people should live their lives. We are shown in the way Ruthie stressed the importance of being obedient. While Lucille wanted a free life, Ruthie wanted a righteous life. We are also shown the role that the caretakers had in the lives of the two sisters. They had the role to assist the sisters have a life. It is the act of doing well while one is alive.
Robinson has some influence as a writer. She uses the stories of the bible with that of the normal lives of humans. People should know that there are parts of their lives that they determine the outlook themselves.
Conclusion
The story of Lucille and Ruthie shows the effect that caretakers have on those they are left to be under them. The story moves from one caretaker to another. The role that these caretakers had on Lucille and Ruthie cannot be undermined.
Works Cited
Robinson, Marilynne. Housekeeping. 1980. New York: Bantam. 1982.
