Comparing The Chaperone And Cora's Broken Pasts

Robert Frost once said, “In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on.” Sometimes in life, events may happen to an individual that could change their sense of self and how they interact with others, yet they conceal their true feelings within themselves and keep proceeding on. Throughout the novel, The Chaperone, knowledge of Louise Brooks and Cora’s broken pasts surface and explain how they have become who they are. In the novel, many characters experienced events in their past, which in turn affects their behavior and relationships.

In the beginning of the novel, Cora’s mysterious and problematic past becomes known to the reader. Growing up is challenging for any individual, but for Cora, her childhood began

When the train made a halting stop in Kansas, Cora was selected by the Kaufmanns like the cutest puppy left in the litter. Nevertheless, her unknown origins continued to inconvenience her throughout her adolescent years in school due to prejudice judgments made upon her, “It was as simple as this, the girl said: their parents knew Cora had come in on the train… Cora likely had unmarried parents—her mother could have been a prostitute, or an imbecile, or mad, or a drunk” (76). Despite being treated differently by many others, she began to love the Kaufmanns as her own parents, that is until they tragically died working on the farm. As a result of this, Cora met her soon-to-be-husband, Alan, who she quickly and naively fell in love with due to her unpleasant past. Under the circumstance of Alan’s reputation, Cora quickly understands after meeting his family and getting a taste of his life,

Louise is a fifteen-year-old flapper, who has indefinitely raised herself and undergone traumatic experiences beginning as a young child. For example, Louise explains to Cora that her mother never wanted children, “‘…and if he wanted children, she would have them, but he would have to find someone else to take care of us.’ Louise shrugged. ‘He didn’t.’” (41). Therefore, Louise grew up unguided and was thought upon as inadequate due to her home situation, which made her reluctant and rebellious of guardianship. In addition, Louise’s behaviors were unlike many other young women of this time. As Cora begins the adventure of chaperoning Louise, she realizes this on the train to New York when she finds Louise accompanied by an older, adult male who was “at least middle-aged…” (61). For instance, due to her lack of parental advice, Louise has a low tolerance for Cora when she tries to steer her in the right direction: “She didn’t wish to be stern. But apparently, she needed to be stern to get the girl to listen” (108). This shows Louise’s need to push the limits and act pretentious with any individual that attempts to correct her improper behavior. Finally, Louise reveals that a man by the name of Mr. Flowers had compromised her when she was only nine, which creates her disregard for her reputation. Realizing the true meaning of what Louise is telling her, Cora sympathetically says, “‘Louise… You