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she mistakes emotional content for materialism as represented by<br />
superficial ideas (6).<br />
The men who flirt with Jeanette also give her money, along<br />
with sexual notes. She is flattered by their invitations to<br />
ride the "Delta Queen" mainly because she "knows how expensive<br />
that was"(662). As she allows the electronics salesman to take<br />
her out in the Cadillac she is struck by his "flamboyant"<br />
behavior and is drawn to the "automatic windows. . .stereo<br />
system, and lighted computer screen" (663). Jeanette realizes,<br />
however, that the salesman is "really not very interesting" when<br />
compared to Donald (663). Jeanette is seduced by her material<br />
desires until she realizes that Donald is more emotionally<br />
fulfilling despite his inability to provide for his family.<br />
Jeanette is horrified by the Bertha stories because they<br />
are grotesque and violent. She projects this horror onto<br />
Rodney, whose "nightmares" are alluded to, but never explained<br />
or explored. We are told that Rodney draws pictures of his<br />
"nightmares" but are only privy to one drawing of "Big Bertha's<br />
titties" which are "two huge circles, filling the page, with<br />
three tiny stick people in he corner"(663). This image is less<br />
than horrific to the reader, and the effect is that we doubt the<br />
authenticity of Rodney's "nightmares." This is especially<br />
interesting because Jeanette sees Donald's nightmares as
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