Readers of The Yearling may be offended by Rawlings's portrayal of women. Ma Baxter, for example, is the one member of the family who is consistently cold and severe. Her son considers her insensitive, and her husband scolds her like a child. She is pictured as an overweight and unimaginative complainer, unable to tell a decent story, to appreciate pets, or to shoot properly. Penny, on the other hand, is Ora's male opposite: he is a tender and intelligent optimist who loves animals, tells marvelous stories, understands boys, and is respected for his hunting abilities. Other women in the story receive equally fixed treatment. Jody considers little Eulalie Boyles both a prime target for potato-throwing and, vaguely, a romantic object. Grandma Hutto and Twink Weatherby are admired or despised for their ability to attract men. And.....
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