44 pages • 1 hour read
Judy BlumeIt's Not the End of the World
Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 1972A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Themes
The Impact of Divorce on Children
The novel sheds light on the complex and often painful experiences of young people navigating the breakdown of their families. Through the eyes of Karen, the protagonist, Blume portrays the ways in which divorce can force children to grow up too quickly, taking on responsibilities and burdens that are beyond their years.
Karen is compelled to mediate between her parents, and she attempts to navigate their conflict and negotiate a sense of peace and stability. Blume presents this as a role reversal, in which the child becomes the adult. Karen finds herself trying to get her parents in the same room, commiserating with Garfa on how to manage their emotions and orchestrating moments for them to see each other alone. Karen also steps up into more adult roles: managing the household, caring for her cat, cleaning up, and looking out for her mother when she’s asleep. She learns about and takes on adult anxieties, such as worrying about whether her family will have enough money to survive or whether her father will pay child support. Even as her parents try to shield her from the reality of the divorce, Karen absorbs tension and anxiety.
The conflict at home also takes a toll on Karen's social life and behavior patterns. As the novel progresses, Karen withdraws from certain activities that defined her. She stops giving her days a grade. She runs out of time to complete a book report for school and receives her first bad grade. She lashes out at her best friend, Debbie, and refuses to go to school sometimes. Debbie’s monkey faces used to cheer her up but now she rejects them. Ultimately, she destroys her Viking diorama, a school project that made her proud, signifying the way the divorce is pressing in on every other aspect of her life. Her siblings, too, exhibit changes in their behavior. Jeff becomes more sullen and confrontational, withdrawing to his room and lashing out at his mom for seemingly small things. Amy becomes more attention-seeking, playing her parents off each other. She stops telling her riddles and has more tantrums. The different negative reactions of each child suggest that the impact is not a one-off, in Karen’s case, but is widespread.
Val Lewis is another child who has to step into adulthood early. Val has more experience with divorce and counsels Karen on how to interpret her parents’ behaviors. Val has a more jaded, adult affect; she accepts that her father is negligent and drinks too much and relies on her book to help her make sense of her situation. By introducing her to the book, Val helps Karen recognize that she cannot rely entirely on her parents for unbiased information and guidance. Each child in the text affected by divorce therefore has an expedited coming-of-age, in a sense, and has to balance their childhood self with adult responsibilities and circumstances.
Rebuilding Life After Trauma
While the novel suggests that divorce is hard, it also suggests that people can rebuild their lives and find positivity after something traumatic has occurred. Children, for example, can develop coping mechanisms and strategies to deal with the stress of divorce. Karen's decision to buy a book about divorce is an example of her desire to understand and make sense of her parents' conflict. Meanwhile, Jeff spends time with his friends and his girlfriend, suggesting that forming communities of their own helps children deal with difficulties at home.
Furthermore, the novel underscores the importance of maintaining a sense of normalcy and routine in the face of difficult events. Karen's parents' efforts to maintain a sense of stability and continuity, despite the chaos and uncertainty of their situation, are crucial in helping their children to feel secure and supported. The importance of communication, honesty, and empathy when rebuilding life is also highlighted, as Karen's parents try to find ways to talk to each other and to their children about their feelings and needs.
Despite the challenges and hardships that they face, Karen and her siblings find ways to show each other their vulnerabilities and connect. When Karen breaks down in front of Jeff, he finally talks to her and explains that their father will still be in their lives. Karen looks out for Amy and lets her sleep in her bed, caring for her during periods of fear and anxiety at night. Karen tries hard to look for Jeff, interrogating his friends and potentially pushing Petey Mansfield to encourage Jeff to come home. When Jeff returns, Karen and Jeff connect, and he admits that running away wasn’t any fun. This connection suggests that people can find strength and solace in each other, even in the midst of conflict and uncertainty, which will help them to overcome challenges and find a new normal.
The novel ultimately that people can exhibit resilience and resourcefulness and find ways to connect with each other and develop coping mechanisms to deal with trauma. While it highlights the difficulty of divorce, it also stresses that there are many ways to rebuild a positive and happy life after a trauma occurs.
Relationship Between Gender Roles and Divorce
The novel explores the ways in which divorce can reinforce and emphasize patriarchal gender roles, particularly in the context of the 1970s, when societal expectations around marriage and family were more rigid. Through Karen’s experience watching her parents’ divorce, the novel sheds light on the ways in which divorce can impact men and women differently, reflecting the patriarchal norms and expectations of the time.
Ellie’s life changes radically as a result of the divorce. As she is a stay-at-home mom, Ellie's identity is tied to her role as a wife and mother. When her marriage ends, she is left without a clear sense of direction or identity, struggling to navigate the challenges of single parenthood and financial independence. She refers back to who she was before she got married at 19 and started having kids at twenty. There is a strong sense that her development was thwarted by the expectations of motherhood, and she never got the chance to explore what she could accomplish professionally and intellectually. Jeff feels particularly betrayed by this idea and interprets her feelings as regret about having children. Even at age 14, Jeff is subscribing to the patriarchal gender roles, expecting Ellie to find total fulfillment in her role as a stay-at-home mom. The lack of career opportunities and financial resources available to Ellie serves as a stark reminder of the limited options available to women during this period. At the same time, the fact that she thinks about completing her degree and becomes a receptionist signals contemporary changes for women and suggests that divorce will increasingly become an option as women are liberated from patriarchal expectations.
In contrast, the expectations placed on Bill are significantly different. As the breadwinner, Bill is expected to provide financially for his family, and his sense of purpose is tied to his role as a provider. When the marriage ends, Bill maintains his career and financial stability, while Ellie is left to navigate the challenges of single parenthood. It is expected that the children will live with Ellie, and Bill will support them through child support and alimony. Dan and Ruth expect that Bill will immediately start dating again and caution Ellie not to wait around in her own romantic life. Val describes the way her father withdrew entirely from her life, leading Karen to worry that Bill will do the same for her. There is an inherent expectation and fear that Bill will no longer be interested in his family, setting up the kids to feel especially thankful when he shows up at all, whereas Ellie receives little credit for the care that she provides.
The novel also explores how rigid gender expectations contributed to the conflict that caused Ellie and Bill to get divorced in the first place. Bill frequently invalidates Ellie’s feelings and opinions, demonstrating that he does not see her as an equal in the marriage. Ellie wants to escape from Bill’s controlling patriarchal presence but has trouble making decisions since she has made them for so many years. Bill physically threatens Ellie and emotionally threatens to have the children taken away from her. She attacks his commitment to the family and accuses him of caring about his job more than his family. Both characters are playing into their assigned gender roles in some ways; Bill as the patriarchal dominant figure and Ellie as the primary caretaker and gatekeeper of the children. They both resent being forced into the box of their gender role and lash out at each other over it.
In conclusion, the novel suggests that divorce can reinforce and emphasize patriarchally-defined gender roles. Through the experiences of Ellie and Bill, the novel sheds light on the ways in which societal expectations around marriage and family can impact the experiences of men and women differently in the face of divorce. The portrayal of Ellie's struggles to navigate the challenges of single parenthood, including her efforts to find employment and manage the household, highlights the ways in which women's lives are often shaped by societal expectations around marriage and family. Ultimately, the novel conveys the need for greater support and resources for women and families navigating the challenges of divorce and serves as a reminder of the importance of challenging patriarchal expectations.
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