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A slew of complex characters appear in this collective story, such as The Kid’s awkward young life or the tragic account of Tillie. However, the character that I found the most interesting was that of Claire. In her own way, she is a character that draws my ire, respect, and understanding as the story unfolds. Appearing as a story of a neurotic, socially inept, rich woman living in a penthouse, the story unfolds and shows that which is endearing and insightful for the times. Though she can barely keep nervousness from eating away at her, Claire displays a soft compassion for the mood of the room. In tense company, she is able to alleviate the condensing sorrow in a sentence or two that brings the other women back to the now.
From her overthinking, as well as the reader’s unique perspective on her inner thoughts, it is easy to realize how she wants goodness to flow out into the world. In the wake of the Vietnam War, her son’s departure, death, and memory carves its way into the reader’s heart in an earnest fashion. Following these passages, the reader is left with the imprint of a lonesome mother whose only hope is that the world could be changed; that any person need not see their children buried before them.
Claire’s kindness shines in a way that is obscured by her own pitfalls. Her rebellion against her father’s racism and antisemitism is respectable and proves her well-meaning attitude. On the other hand, it is marred by her own view of the Vietnamese and use of a racially tinged word against them. Moreover, in both the thoughts of Gloria and herself, they notice that, even with the well-meaning of wanting to further their friendship, there is the racial and classist history behind asking a colored woman to be your maid. On a lesser note, the disconnect Claire has from how everyday conversation and gentle hospitality work, as well as her privileged upbringing, draws a deep line within her character. In spite of these faults, she still proves herself in her heartfelt stories and acknowledgement of her flaws. Even amidst the rubble of a happy woman, she still shines a light on the humanity that should exist between people. Her budding relationship with Gloria, her auntly relationship with Jaslyn and Janice, and her desire to show her husband in a light befitting of the relationship they have prove to any reader that Claire is a remarkable, empathetic, and fleshed out character.
I like your description of Claire as a “remarkable, empathetic” character. I think you’re right. She is extremely privileged, and very naive about what others endure. However, despite this ignorance, she has a genuinely good heart, and doesn’t want anyone to suffer. One thing that struck me throughout the chapter narrated by Claire is that she always, genuinely, has the best intentions at heart- any offense or hurt she causes is authentically accidental. For example, when she offers Gloria to be her maid. This is a very racially charged suggestion, and offers a level of venom towards Gloria, which can be interpreted by her as the fact Claire will never see her as anything other than a maid. In reality, however, we know this isn’t the case. We know Claire would have offered a white woman in Gloria’s position the same offer (Or at least, we have great confidence she would), race never factors into Claire’s mind. But that’s exactly the epitome of her privilege; She is allowed to not take race into account. Her experiences make it so that she never has to consider the finer points of racism, only the glaring examples, like her father.
But despite all of that, we, as readers, feel vaguely fond towards Claire. It would be so easy for her to simply embrace her father’s ideals or never socialize with those of lower classes than her. Her choice to struggle and try to make other’s lives easier, although she may go about it in the wrong way, endears us to her.To pinpoint Claire as the torch-bearer for the hope of humanity was a brilliant observation. Confined to the ample commodities of her penthouse and the regular meetings with the same four women, we are led to believe that Claire’s passive disposition in an utterly rigid environment forges a parochial world-view. Yet Claire is the opposite, and challenges the advent of human conflict with the expanse of human possibility and inevitability. I easily share your respect for Claire, for she is one who has the courage not to speak out but to keep silent, and not to act out but to think critically. It is easy to succumb to the idea that Claire, rattled by inherent, real-time nervousness, shields herself from the afflictions of the outer world, but the truth is that she exercises caution and measured judgment in order to make sense of the loss of her son and the wide spectrum of societal ills. The phrase you used, “soft compassion” crystallizes Claire’s delicate nature and her constant strive to lace intimacy out of even the most distant memories and sensations. We are able to identify with Claire so deeply not because she has suffered the harsh reality of the world around her but because she feels helpless and misguided in her struggle to end human suffering. As you mentioned, she is different for thinking against the tides of indifference and venturing out of her comfort zone.
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