Rosemary Ley

Wilmer Rosemary Ley

WILMER The title, WILMER and the use of Wilma throughout the book, introduces the bigotry that exists between the cultural populous in America. Just as the title given to her surrogate mother, Mammie is indicative of her place in society. Being raised by a Negro Mammie gave Wilma her love of this family who adopted her and made her feel as though she was an equal with her Negro counter-parts. Others in the white society didn't like having a young white girl in close friendships with Negros, even to the point of threatening the life of her best friend and Mammie's son, Cletus Lee. As the story leads from one climax to the next, the reader is given hints to the outcome and at times is given opportunities to come to their own conclusion when it doesn't affect the final ending. The cause and effect of gossip is brought to the foreground during the entire book, and the author doesn't always make decisions for the reader. This creates the suspense that plays along the storyline. The author tries to make the point that gossip is just jumping to conclusions and isn't always true. One of the main threads that are woven throughout the story is the treatment of the Negro in the early 1900's. Eventually, Cletus Lee's life changes to one of pride in who he is and respect from those around him while Wilma's life changes to that of a slave to her husband. Cletus Lee tries to make her understand that there are those people who will try to put you down, but that can only happen if you let it. You need to walk away from those who try to persecute you. A final climax gives Wilma the opportunity to get even with her brother, Billie Lee, and with her husband for the way he had always treated her during their married life. She was finally happy. She had taken Cletus Lee's advice and stepped away.