Through the novella, Leaving Gilead, Patt Carr introduces the idea that
war brings out the worst in even the best of people. Even though we might be
fighting a war for a good cause, no one wins in war. We all lose something or
someone. Through this story, Carr tells the story of the Birdsong family during
the Civil war and how it affected them. War brings out the worst in people.
War can bring out the worst in even the best people. It doesn 't matter if they are on your side or on the other side. While Saranell and her mom and Renny were
in a cabin in the woods, they are visited by a soldier named Tray,who walks in
wearing a Yankees coat but actually turns out to be on their side. He looks at
Geneva and says,”Since you got such a bad cold—” he said as he stepped
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Nor to
talk none with that cough neither. A woman don 't have to be a talker to please
me.”(Carr) Tray had every intention of raping Geneva that day. Geneva had told
Saranell that the confederate soldiers were gentleman but one had the audacity
to even think about raping Geneva. This shows that not matter if you 're on the
good side or the bad side, war will always bring out the worst in you. After
Geneva died, Renny and Saranell were in need of food, so they stopped by
Fisk’s General Store to get some. Renny brings in Geneva’s sterling dishes and
is wanting to trade them in for food. “It 's all sterling,” Saranell burst out. “Mama
doesn 't own plate.” “Women can 't tell sterling from plate, missy,” Opal Fisk said.
This shows Opal Fisk’s greediness. Geneva Birdsong was a classy woman.
“...and if there was anything hinting of elegance or class that Geneva Waverly
Birdsong might possibly need or want, her husband would buy it.” (Carr 74).
Opal Fisk knew this and yet he chose to be wealthy instead of helping a child in