Narrative Analysis

By Genevieve M. Nangit
February 27, 2024

Narrative Analysis of “City of Sand”: Gladys’ bathing of Norma Jeane

Gladys cannot feel the scalding hot water. If her body was numb, then how can she protect
Norma Jeane. When did the caring end? When did she become numb?

Sentences
Scalding-hot cleansing water rushing into the tub. She’d stripped the child naked and was
herself naked. She’d half carried the child, tried to lift her and force her into the water, but the
child resisted, screaming. In the confusion of her thoughts, which were mixed with the acrid
taste of smoke and jeering voices too muffled by drugs to be heard clearly, she’d been thinking
the child was much younger, it was an earlier time in their lives and the child was only two or
three years old weighing only — what? — thirty pounds, and not distrustful of her mother, and
not suspicious, cringing and shoving away and beginning to scream No! No! this child so grown,
so strong and willful, possessed of a will contrary to her mother’s, refusing to be led and lifted
and set into the scalding-hot cleansing water, fighting free, running from the steamy bathroom
and out of her mother’s bare clutching arms. “You. You’re the reason. He went away. He didn’t
want you” — these words, almost calmly uttered, flung after the terrified child like a handful of
stinging pebbles. (Page 62)

Reference
“Blonde” by Joyce Carol Oates. 2000. 4th Estate: London, UK