Lady Oracle Chapter Summary & Analysis - Chapter 5 Summary

Chapter 5 Summary

Joan thinks of her imaginary mother, whom she referred to when dealing with Arthur. Joan realizes she never discussed her real mother, since doing so would have led Arthur to the truth about the real Joan. Instead, Joan tells him of a mother who perished from lupus shortly after Joan and Arthur's meeting. Arthur's mother, on the other hand, is discussed in detail during the relationship. Described as a demanding, religious, and orderly woman, Arthur holds a large amount of contempt for her. Joan's own mother named her after Joan Crawford, and she wonders occasionally if this was done in a desire for Joan to grow into Joan Crawford's screen characters, or to become as successful as Joan Crawford.

Joan realizes her mother chastised her early on for her weight. As a child, Joan was quite heavy, and her mother enrolled her in dancing school in an effort to slim...
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