Question

When Doodle finally walks, Brother waltzes Aunt Nicey around the room for a brief joyful moment. Look at the line. What happens to end their joyful dance? Symbolically, what's interesting about this supposedly light-hearted moment?

Answer 1

Answer:

Part A: Aunty Nicey steps on Brothers toes which hurts him so badly that he feels he has become crippled.

Part B: Symbolically, the abrupt end to this light-hearted moment foreshadows the events happening in this family. Ultimately, joy never seems to last long in the family and every form of disability is seen in a negative light.

Explanation:

Part A: Aunty Nicey stepping on Brothers big toe with her heavy shoes hurt him so badly that the dancing abruptly end and so did the joy of it.

Part B: The birth of Doodle though a happy one abruptly becomes sad when it's learnt that Doodle is disabled and may not survive for long.

Also, when hope begins to rise that Doodle may finally overcome his disability and grow into adulthood, he eventually dies extinguishing every faint hope of a brighter future for him.

In the case of Brother too, his high expectations for Doodle eventually leads to a series of cruel acts against him, which ultimately leads to the death of Doodle, thus leaving brother emotionally crippled.