From A Life of Her Own by Emilie Carles

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From A Life of Her Own by Emilie Carles

So much took place in these recollections from Emilie Carles life. The first passage, “Against All Comers”, tells the story of how she came to marry her husband, Jean Carles (87). This story had a lighthearted tone. It seemed as if I was watching a romance drama. The adorable things Jean would do like cooking and painting to win the approval of Emilie’s father made me smile. Jean is such a kind soul compared to the members of Emilie’s family and even his own family. 

I naturally wished for this happy drama to continue, but unfortunately in the next passage, “My Four Wards”, circumstances get progressively worse for Emilie and Jean (95). They start a hotel that makes no money, they lose a child, and Emilie’s sister is no longer able to care for her four children so Emilie and Jean raise them as their own. Circumstances continue to get worse in the passage, “Like a Bird Fallen from the Nest”, where Emilie loses another child and is left absolutely heartbroken (101). 

I think one theme in the second and third passage is the inconsolable loss of a child. At that time, it seemed like it was normal for women to lose many children. Although it is much more rare today due to technological advancements, child loss has life-lasting negative effects to a woman’s psyche. If I lived when Emilie did, I would never marry or have children. The heartache suffered by Emilie made her lose herself and her faith entirely. 

There is also an overarching theme of death. She describes the gruesome suicides of family and people she knew. Like these people, Emilie had probably considered giving up after so much loss, but she knew she had to live for the people in her care. I think experiences like Emilie’s were considered normal, which is sad. Emilie worked so hard and was such a good person. Everyday was a fight for her. Everyone and everything around her crumbled, except for Jean.

Emilie mentions a few times the concept of the “Living Dead” which is “people who are dead inside and prevent others from living” (105). After the death of her daughter, she became one of the “Living Dead”. She witnessed so much death and she always had to worry about money and food and children with never any peace. I hate that these experiences are normalized to her, and as you read, you see how all the sadness that surrounded her affects her worldview and her writing. She is no longer the girl she was in the first passage.