Dealing with Change

Hilderbrand uses the setting of the late’60s, a period of radical changes in the United States, as a vehicle to discuss both effective and ineffective ways of dealing with change. Jessie and Kate are both characters who ineffectively deal with change. Kate drinks and Jessie steals. It is only after David threatens to leave Kate because of her drinking that she realizes she needs to find a better way to cope. Kirby, however, is a character who tries to meet change in an effective manner and positive manner.

Kate’s drinking is an example of an ineffective way of dealing with change. After Tiger leaves to fight in the Vietnam War, Kate’s drinking increases to the point she is either drunk or passed out every time David comes to visit. Even Kate realizes that her drinking is not a good way to...