Define genesis. what application to this story do you see in the beginning of the novel?

Genesis means "in beginning". It's mostly linked with the first book of the Old Testament. The beginning of the novel has the guilt-ridden voice of Orleanna Price. She introduces herself and her version of events. Like the Bible, this story has different narrators. Orleanna's four daughters, Rachel, Leah, Adah, and Ruth May all tell us their stories in present tense. Like Genesis, Orleanna tells us the story in past tense. If we see Genesis as the beginning of things, we can also see Orleanna in a similar light.