The Giver of Stars
Chapter 2: Two
by Moyes, JojoThe chapter introduces Baileyville, a modest Appalachian town characterized by its mix of brick and timber buildings, winding lanes, and social divisions shaped by geography. Wealthier families traditionally lived on flatter lands, while higher elevations housed moonshiners, though these distinctions blurred over time. The Baileyville WPA Packhorse Library, located in a rustic cabin up Split Creek, serves as the focal point. Alice Van Cleve, an English bride, takes a job there despite her husband Bennett’s reservations, using her accent and religious pretext to sway his father, Mr. Van Cleve, into reluctant approval.
Alice arrives at the library, eager for independence and purpose, but her day begins chaotically when a spooked horse nearly tramples her. Frederick Guisler, a local man building shelves for the library, helps her up, and their interaction hints at his kindness and Alice’s outsider status. Beth Pinker, a brash rider, blames a truck driver for spooking her horse and departs hastily, leaving Alice to recover. The library itself, though humble, exudes a sense of potential, contrasting with the stifling Van Cleve household.
Alice’s attempts to integrate into the community meet resistance, as two women openly scorn her, likely due to local gossip about her marriage. Margery O’Hare, the no-nonsense librarian, arrives on a mule and offers Alice a gentle but spirited horse named Spirit for her work. The exchange reveals Margery’s pragmatic nature and Alice’s nostalgia for her freer childhood in England, contrasting with her current constrained life.
The chapter underscores Alice’s struggle to carve out an identity in Baileyville, balancing societal expectations with her desire for autonomy. Her job at the library symbolizes hope, yet the town’s judgmental undercurrents and her husband’s disapproval loom large. The introduction of key characters like Frederick and Margery sets the stage for alliances and conflicts, while the library’s transformative potential mirrors Alice’s own journey toward self-discovery.
FAQs
1. How does the physical description of Baileyville reflect the social and economic changes occurring in the town?
Answer:
The chapter describes Baileyville as a town where traditional social hierarchies are shifting. Originally, wealthier families lived on higher ground where legitimate businesses thrived, while poorer residents occupied the hollers where moonshining was common. However, the influx of miners and supervisors has blurred these distinctions, making it harder to judge social status by location alone. This reflects broader economic changes in Appalachia during this period, where industrialization and new job opportunities were disrupting traditional ways of life and community structures.2. Analyze how Alice uses her English identity strategically in her interactions with the Van Cleve men. What does this reveal about her adaptability?
Answer:
Alice deliberately exaggerates her English accent to make her arguments more persuasive, adopting a “regal” tone that commands respect. This tactic shows her growing awareness of cultural dynamics in her new home and her willingness to adapt her behavior to navigate difficult situations. Her mention of “religious sustenance” as a potential benefit of her library work demonstrates how she frames her desires in terms that appeal to her conservative in-laws, revealing both social intelligence and a subtle resistance to their control.3. What contrasting impressions of the Packhorse Library emerge from the chapter, and how do they reflect different perspectives on progress?
Answer:
The library is portrayed both as a rickety, makeshift structure and as a place brimming with purpose. While its physical description emphasizes its humble nature (uneven stairs, repurposed doors), Alice perceives it as a space of potential and usefulness compared to the stifling Van Cleve household. This contrast highlights differing views on the WPA initiative: some see it as government overreach, while others (like Alice) view it as an opportunity for education and community connection. The shelves filled with books symbolize hope amid the town’s economic struggles.4. How does the incident with the runaway horse serve as both a literal and symbolic introduction to Alice’s new role?
Answer:
Literally, the chaotic horse encounter introduces Alice to key characters (Frederick and Beth) and demonstrates the unpredictable nature of rural life. Symbolically, it mirrors Alice’s own situation—she’s like the startled horse, thrust into unfamiliar circumstances, while also being the “rider” who must learn to navigate challenging terrain. The physical fall foreshadows the social stumbles she’ll face as an outsider, while Frederick’s assistance suggests potential allies in her adaptation process. The scene encapsulates the blend of roughness and kindness she’ll encounter.5. Compare Margery O’Hare’s introduction with Alice’s first impressions of Baileyville. What might their dynamic suggest about the story’s development?
Answer:
Margery arrives with unconventional animals (a mule disguised as a horse) and blunt humor, contrasting sharply with Alice’s proper English background and the town’s conservative norms. While Alice initially sees Baileyville through the lens of social hierarchies and judgmental neighbors, Margery operates with pragmatic confidence. Their likely partnership—reflected in Margery’s matter-of-fact offer of the “feisty but sure-footed” Spirit—hints that Alice will find empowerment through unconventional friendships that transcend the town’s rigid expectations, possibly through their shared library work.
Quotes
1. “She had discovered that if she exaggerated her English accent, they found it harder to disagree with her. In recent weeks she had begun to sound positively regal.”
This quote reveals Alice’s clever adaptation to her new environment, using her Englishness as a subtle tool of persuasion. It highlights the cultural dynamics and power of perception in her interactions with the Van Cleve family.
2. “Unlike the Van Cleve house, the little building held an air of purpose, the sense that it was about to become something useful.”
This contrast between the library and Alice’s home underscores the transformative potential of the Packhorse Library project. It symbolizes hope and meaningful work versus the stifling atmosphere of her domestic life.
3. “Sometimes she thought she might just make a sign and hang it around her neck: No, I didn’t know he had a sweetheart.”
This poignant internal reflection reveals Alice’s ongoing social struggles in Baileyville. It captures both her outsider status and the lingering consequences of her husband’s past relationships.
4. “You ever rode a mule? Is that a mule? Sure is. But don’t tell him. He thinks he’s a stallion from Araby.”
This humorous exchange between Margery and Alice introduces their dynamic while subtly commenting on appearances versus reality - a theme that runs through the chapter’s exploration of the town’s social hierarchies.
5. “Alice was immediately taken back to summers spent riding around her grandmother’s estate in Sussex, when she was fourteen and free to escape for whole days at a time, rather than constantly being told how she should behave.”
This moment of connection with the horse reveals Alice’s longing for freedom and her past self. It establishes an important contrast between her constrained present and her more independent youth.