A Fugitive Green chapter 7 continues Minnie’s story, as she learns more about her mother. This chapter certainly does nothing to make me like her father.
While Miriam shares that Helene wasn’t raped by her father, there were certainly some questionable actions taken by the man. This is someone who clearly really only thought of himself, and it’s clear why he’s never told Minnie much about her biological mother.
However, Minnie wanted to learn about her mother, and now she has. What will she doe with all this information?
Breaking down A Fugitive Green chapter 7
Minnie and Miriam talk about Helene, and at first, Minnie is skeptical. It’s only when Miriam uses Minnie’s father’s name that she knows the woman is telling her the truth. So few people know his real name because of the line of work he is in.
She clarifies that Minnie’s father didn’t rape her mother. However, it’s clear that had to be some coercion. Minnie’s mom was a nun, and a young one at that. She entered the convent at the age of 12, and when she was 19, Minnie’s father turned up with a book to repair. The two ended up starting a secret relationship, and Helene ended up pregnant.
Because she was at the convent, she was taken to a mental asylum. Miriam only learned when Raphael, the man helping with repairing the book, came to find out where Helene was and why she had left the convent. It’s that reminder that women had so few rights, and they would be hidden away if they became a problem.
The asylum broke Helene, and she now rarely speaks with anyone. However, she lives out in a cabin, where she is cared for by Miriam and Raphael. All Minnie wants is to meet her mom. She doesn’t care if the woman is silent.
Could this chapter be used in an adaptation?
There’s such heartbreak in this part of the story, and we would certainly need to see it play out if A Fugitive Green was ever adapted. It brings us Minnie’s backstory that she didn’t know, showing us more of who her father is and where she came from. This was such a big part of her tale to kickstart the story.
I would like to see this story show rather than just told, though. It would mean we’d need to see Helene’s story play out in full on the screen, and that could be somewhat harrowing to watch. However, it would certainly help to show whether Minnie’s father coerced the young nun or if there were genuine feelings there.
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