43. In what ways do Jeannette and her mother switch roles?

In this section, Jeannette becomes mother to her siblings and caregiver to her own mother and father. She and her brother attempt to provide food for the family; she nurses her sister after she's burned trying to start a fire. She stitches up her father, and most importantly tries to convince her mother to leave her father.... if not for herself..... for the welfare of her children. Think about it.... should a little girl have to coax her mother into understanding what's right for her children? Is it Jeannette's job to provide, nurse, and assess finances and the need for welfare?