At first blush, Push looks like it would be an easy read, but it is, instead, a very complex work. It has a simple style, but that style presents a hard theme. It is a short work, but its story does not end.

While there are many questions that could be asked about Push, my question focuses on that story that does not end. Why do you suppose Sapphire chooses not to tie up the ends of Precious’s story? What effect does she achieve by placing the stories of all the alternative class members at the end of the work?

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Hi Becky. I too found myself absolutely unable to put this book down. I wish all of my community college developmental students were one tenth as motivated as Precious! I'm taking a wild guess at this, but I'm wondering if Sapphire was trying to portray Precious' story as ongoing and as far reaching as possible, thus making it all of our stories in some way. The dialect of the book puts one right in the story so powerfully, and the reality is that things don't get tied up nicely when one is so present in the story. The fact that Sapphire includes the story of all of the class members, to me, enforces the idea that these are the stories of all of us in a way. We meet people, and we share even very intimately a part of their lives, but things rarely get tied up when we go our separate ways. It adds to that sense of being so intimately involved in the story. By not making the story so packaged with an ending, we enter the story more profoundly and it becomes more profoundly all of our stories. I hope I'm making some sense here. Good luck to you.

Tara Edwards

To Tara E.—You comment that because there is no ending to Precious’s story or to the stories of the other students "we enter the story more profoundly" and that the story becomes "all of our stories." That makes a lot of sense to me. Without the ending to satisfy us, we keep examining what we have read looking for closure, and by continuing to think about Precious, she becomes a part of us, or we become a part of her—in this way our stories become one.

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Hi Becky. I must say that I could not put "Push" down until I'd finished it. It was very powerful and my emotions were all over the place. I wanted to read but I didn't want to read at the same time because I didn't want to know about Precious and what her parents (especially her dad) were doing to her. I think that's why Sapphire decides not to tidy every thing up at the end in a happily ever after senario. We don't want to know about things like incest or illeracy because then we would have to be responsible in some way, to be our brother's keeper. (Does that make sense?) And we would be forced to realize that no one victimized by incest or a failed educational system can't ever forget it or put it on the back burner so to speak. That person is who he is because what has happened to him. What they can do instead though, what they must do is persevere in spite of it. That's why Precious must continue to push through life baby step after baby step. By placing the stories of the other alternative class members at the end of the story, Sapphire achieves a balance in that even though each story is unique they are the same because each is a story of struggles of the human condition. We all have those in one form or another whether we are rich or poor, black or white, male or female.

To Philonis S.—Your comments about not wanting to know about incest or illiteracy made me think of something I read when we were discussing the slave narratives. In my reading regarding Lydia Maria Child’s editing of Harriet Jacobs’s narrative, I noted that Child says she placed all of the most physically descriptive parts into the chapter about neighboring plantation owners. She says she did this so that sensitive readers wouldn’t give up reading. They could choose whether or not to read that particular section. Sapphire, however, doesn’t allow us to skip the most unpleasant parts of Precious’ story. We have to read Precious’ unexpurgated reality, no matter how repulsive, before we can attempt to understand anything about Precious.

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Hi Becky,

I believe that Sapphire says this to her readers by NOT ending the story: "While you all sit in your sweet homes reading this book, people are suffering and trying to go living somewhere. Why should there be an end when people still struggle for a life somewhere outside?"

Sancar Sallanti

To Sancar S.—Endings confine. They reinforce the dominant culture. They authenticate or give authority to what we think we have read. As we read, we search for validation of what we think we already know. By not giving us an ending, I think Sapphire refuses to let us "remain in our sweet homes" ignoring what is happening around us.

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Becky,
With regard to your question concerning the ending of "Push" I think it is best to review what we discussed in class last night (9/18). As we were discussing the concept of "The Dream" Dr. White mentioned that this dream is often referred to as something just over the horizon, something still to be sought, a dream deferred. I think that Sapphire leaves Precious' dream deferred intentionally to represent the dream that is not quite attainable and not so easily achieved. In cross-cultural studies we learn that often times the American Dream and its accompanying "bootstrap theory" (you can pull yourself up by your bootstraps and make it happen for you if you work hard enough) are often used by those of the dominant culture to deny the complaints of those who still struggle in today's society. Precious has worked very hard to overcome all that has happened to her and she still has not achieved her dream. It has taken both her hard work and the help of community members to get her to the point she is at by the end of the novel and the dream still hasn't been achieved. Sapphire's ending questions the validity of the American Dream and reinterprets it as the dream deferred.

Andrea Dunn

To Andrea D.—Thanks for reviewing the discussion from class—since I’m not able to be there it really helps me. I think what you say about Sapphire leaving Precious’s dream deferred is a very astute observation. The open-endedness of Precious’ story really points out to me the need for examining the validity of the American Dream and the presupposition that everyone can have it if they just want it and try hard enough. As I remember someone saying or writing to me recently, perhaps someone from this class, "You can’t pull yourself up by your bootstraps if you’ve never even had any boots."

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Hello Becky,

I read PUSH in less than 3 hours and was absorbed into Precious' world (nightmare). I think that Sapphire chose not to tie up the ends of Precious' story because there is no end. Precious' story is the story of many young girls (victims). The pain continues, it doesn't stop no matter what age and no matter how long ago it happened. Maybe in the afterlife it does. So, I think that Sapphire wants the reader to be aware of this ongoing pain. Or maybe Sapphire simply wants us to make up our own ending. Real life isn't always a pretty picture. I think that is why I liked the book so much, it was almost too real. About placing the stories at the end, I agree with Philonis' and Tara's responses. I think that these stories represent everyone's story to some degree. We all have some type of dysfunctionality in our families, unfortunately Precious' was sexual, physical and mental abuse. Instead of bogging down the actual text with these stories, just when we think we got the whole picture, Sapphire pops more gory detail on us!

Michelle Stephenson

To Michelle S.—You talk about the "gory detail" that Sapphire "pops" us with when we think we have everything figured out, and that is an important point. Sapphire keeps us looking at Precious’s experience, even when we would rather turn away. Turning away won’t birth any new thoughts, so Sapphire keeps yelling at us to "Push!"

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    Just as Morrison’s book was layered with multiple meanings, Push’s ending is just as complex.  Ms. Rain criticizes The Color Purple for its "fairy tale ending," noting that "realism has its virtues too" (83). In this book, realism does has its virtues, and a life as difficult as Precious’ would not be served by tying up the ending in a nice neat package. By leaving the ending open, Sapphire, as Andrea noted, deconstructs the "American Dream Myth" by illustrating exactly how the "bootstrap theory" does not work for Precious. If it were true, her drive, dedication and desire, according to the myth, would have led her to the better life she so longed to give her children. At the end, Precious effectively debunks this myth, as all of her hard work has only gotten her so far. However, Precious, in some ways, does achieve some of her goals. Like Harriet Jacobs, who notes in the concluding lines of her narrative, "… my story ends with freedom; not in the usual way…" Precious has a freedom, though not the one she envisioned; however, both Precious and Jacobs continue to strive toward their dream (513).
     The resemblance to slave narratives can be seen in many instances, and Precious’ story can be likened to a continuation of the slave narrative tradition. Precious is certain that "School gonna (sic) help me get out dis (sic) house" (35). This is reminiscent of the theory espoused by Douglas and others who declared that literacy would lead to freedom for the slaves. Precious also endeavors to make certain her son can read, "I bet chu (sic) one thing, I bet chu (sic) my baby  can read" (63).   Precious desires to be literate because she knows that it will ultimately lead to her freedom that includes a home for herself and her children. Interestingly, this is exactly what Jacobs longed for as well.
     Precious story does not end because it is a story that African-Americans have been telling for years – a story of oppression, hurt, anger, and the fantasy of a dream that does not exist. By not ending the story, we can see the slave narratives reflected, and that literacy and freedom  is still desired and needed, even after all this time.  In her poem "Still I Rise," Maya Angelou, states, "I am the dream and the hope of the slave" and so is Precious.   The non-ending assures us that the story begun so many years ago has not yet reached a conclusion. 

To Jessica H.—Your comparison of Precious’s story with the slave narratives and the desire of all for literacy made me think once again of the awesome power of language. People who can’t read and write must rely on others for information. The person who controls reading and writing controls much.

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Response to question 3

I'd like to confer with all responses so far--- (I really liked Philonis', Tara's and Michelle's points about putting the responsibilty of "knowing"--- on the reader!) That's a great human rights angle!

I'd like to add that there are two things that unite the women in PUSH-1) is the marginalization of their voice which had rendered them nearly powerless 2) their class status. "Class" in conjunction with race, is another relationship that could be explored in this text.

I believe that there is power in writing something down. When a person committs to paper, these self expressions, rather than holding in their fears, shame, anger, etc....this power of literacy enabled each person to tear down the shroud of alienation. So, "hope" comes from coming together, but the larger "dream" is still defered (as many people have so eloquently commented on in earlier posts). That's why it ends without resolution--(Specific to this point, I liked Jessica's discussion of a 'fairy tale ending'). I, as a reader, truly felt and hung onto this "hope" for her to 'make it'....especially as she waited to hear the results of the

HIV test. I remember thinking, "Oh no...hasn't she suffered enough?---no,no, NOOOO!"...Don't let it be so! I wonder if other readers felt hopeful for that fate of the women at the end of the book with an open-ending? Is there any room for 'hope' in a dream deferred or was the largest victory just survival?

Thanks,

Rachel

Hi Becky,

I think Sapphire chooses to end the story as she does simply because there is no more to tell for the time being. In a story as realistic as Push, tieing up the end would weaken the reality. For example, Precious's mother feels she is not to blame for Precious's abuse. How can anyone realistically think that anyone who says, "I wanted my man for myself...He her daddy, but he was my man!" can be helped or made to accept responsibility for her own actions? Also, formally punishing her would serve no purpose since 1) Mary is living in a hell worse than death or jail and 2) Precious is "pushing" toward her future and trying to get out of her past. In such a short work we are presented with lifetimes of knowledge. I feel that the last couple scenes in the book close the door to one part of Precious' life and open the door to her future. She has learned to read and write, she is getting help and support for her abuse, health, and continuing education, and she is determined to make it on her own. Precious is accepting of her life situation and she wants to make a future for herself and her children. I think the stories of the alternative students at the end of the book further promote the fact that this story has no ending; each story leaves the reader with some hope that each girl will "push" themselves to do the best they can. The stories all show that each has come a long way and their stories are far from over. I don't mean to say that each story will end happily because, again, that is unrealistic for such a realistic book. However, there is always more to tell...

Linda Harvey

To Linda H.—Your comment that stories in Push don’t end because they aren’t finished yet is really important. As I commented to David above, ending the stories would end our examination of them. I don’t mean that we wouldn’t still think about them, but we would think we knew everything there was to know about them. We could close the book and not have to struggle so much with what was inside.

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Becky,

Like most others who have responded thus far, I, too, could not put this novel down. I had to keep reminding myelf that it was a novel. Otherwise, it may have been too much to bear. A couple responses have referred to how realistic the story is, and that, to me, is the driving force behind Precious' story. Realism takes "life," slaps us in the face with it, and forces us to deal with it in whatever manner we can. Sapphire gives us all a heavy dose of reality, making us explore worlds we cannot even imagine. She forces us to look into Conrad's Heart of Darkness and imagine a world that has the capability, as with Kurtz, of driving us over that edge. However, unlike Kurtz, Precious does not succumb to the darkness and finds reasons to persevere beyond that level at which others might have given up all hope. So in that respect, I feel it is a story of triumph. Were we to see an ending, that triumph would become secondary. Leaving Precious' story open-ended and placing her clasmate's writings at the end only heightens the realism by displaying life as a continuum. She and her classmates will go on, striving for their own interpretations of "the dream."

David Miller

To David M.—Just as you say, the realism in Push is extremely powerful, even shocking. But at the same time we are shocked, I think we know that things like this really do exist. Perhaps we are just not used to having to see them so clearly. That clear vision makes us want to examine how it could be that we have allowed this to exist in our society, and by leaving the open ending, Sapphire is not allowing us to close the book and forget what we have read.

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Becky,

In response to your question, I must agree with everyone that the story is left open-ended because there is still so much yet to happen. I like sticking to the reasoning that much of Precious' freedom lies in education, literacy. As in the slave narratives and many other texts (even current texts such as Lives on the Boundary by Mike Rose), we see the importance that literacy has in each person's life. Precious is no different and she thoroughly recognizes that. She determines to sit at the front of the classroom at the "alternative" school rather than start this school as she has done every other class she has entered, at the back of the room. In fact even in her struggle to get to the school on the first day exhibits her desire and knowledge of the necessity for the "truth".

Sapphire amazingly weaves this story with an intense vision of Precious' discourse. Through the progression of the text Precious is able to speak more fluent Standard English as well as write it. Although she has not become fully literate, she is progressing just as all the others are. Writing their own stories is one way to express self becoming literate in the process. They are able to write what means the most to them which in turn keeps them involved in the educational process. Never before were these students as interested in learning than they are learning to read and write and expressing their own stories. This in turn may also be therapeutic and healing.

As we saw through many of the slave narratives, literacy was freedom of mind, freedom of the physical and freedom of the spirit. Precious reminds us that has not changed. This freedom is a process and she has only begun.

Donnette Arnold.

To Donnette A.—I agree that being able to read and write does give us freedom. I think of Precious’ fear of not knowing the difference between the pages, and I think of what a relief she felt when she finally could differentiate between them. It reminds me, too, of something I read from a Charles Dickens novel: "To see people read, and to see people write, and to see the postmen deliver letters, and not to have the least idea of all that language—to be, to every scrap of it, stone blind and dumb! It must be very puzzling to see the good company going to the churches on Sundays, with their books in their hands and to think…what does it all mean, and if it means anything to anybody, how come it means nothing to me?" (Bleak House)

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Becky,

I agree with you that Push was a book I could not put down. When I began reading the book, I was appalled Dr. White had us reading such a book. As I continued reading the book, I grew to appreciate Sapphire’s style- the graphic details surrounding the incestuous relationship, the illiteracy, the abuse Precious suffered from her mother, etc. I realized I should not be appalled about what Sapphire has written, but I should be appalled at the way the system treats Precious and so many other young girls like her. The situations and family relationships Precious encounters are so common, yet so unthinkable and unbeknownst to people like me who have not actually experienced them.

Although Push is a fictional piece of literature, what kind of message is being sent to our young African-American girls who are experiencing similar situations as Precious? Are we, as a society, sending these young girls a message of not reporting such vile and inhumane acts to the proper authorities because these acts are of little to no concern to authorities as a social epidemic? Or, are these situations of concern to authorities only if the girls have the right skin color?

In response to your question of why Sapphire does not choose to tie up the end of Precious’ story, I believe Sapphire is letting us know Precious’ story, and so many girls like her, does not end. We very seldom know what happens to these girls. Their lives are not tied up at the end like a sitcom or a fairy tale. Until we decide to intervene in situations like Precious encounters, we may never know what happens to Precious or other girls like her.

Tomasina Alford

To Tomasina A: I absolutely agree with your comments about the graphic nature of the book. I wanted to put the book down several times, but something about it held me fast. And now I’m glad that I read on because the book really made me think about the experiences others have had to endure.

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Melissa Morris

Hi Becky!

Push was definitely a book that I could not put down. And the ending, or lack thereof, leaves us something to really think about. For me, it left me strangely worried about Precious and how her life will turn out. I also felt like the ending was synonymous to Precious's life; incomplete. I believe Sapphire really wants to leave us thinking about Precious and how her life will turn out. If she had ended it for us, we may have felt satisfied enough not to really think about the story of Precious anymore and move on to another book; especially if it had been a happy ending. It may have even seemed less real had it of had a happy ending. A tragic ending may have made it seem too unreal. All in all, the lack of an ending had a huge impact on how we felt and left us thinking.

Melissa Morris