"No Name Woman"
For each of the following questions, write specific and detailed answers.
1. Why is No Name Woman punished so severely? What is the worst part of her punishment? Why isn’t the father of the illegitimate baby punished?
2. Why does the narrator’s mother tell her the story of No Name Woman? How does this story affect the narrator, Maxine?
3. Why do you think Kingston chooses to begin her autobiography with this story? (Hint: think about the end of the chapter)
4. Which theory about what happened to her aunt do you think is correct? Explain.
5. How and why does No Name Woman kill herself? Why is this significant? What does it show about her attitude?