Question

Why does claudette repeat the mantra shoes on feet throughout the story?

Answer 1

This question is about "St Lucy's Home for Girls Raised by Wolves"

Answer:

To force acceptance of the new reality in which she lives.

Explanation:

Claudette is a girl who was raised by wolves. She lived by the ways of the wolves and knew nothing of human behavior. However, one day a group of nuns found her and took her to be raised as a human child, supplying what she believed she was and forcing her to assume human characteristics and customs.

One of the big changes that Claudette went through was having to wear shoes and not eat them like wolves do. So whenever the instinct to take your shoes off came, Claudette used the mantra that reminded her to behave like a human being. The mantra was "mouth closed and shoes on the feet".