Essay Questions

Critics have observed that Florida was an odd choice of setting for a collection of Southern gothic stories. Why is this?

"The more north you go, the more south you get." This saying, popular amongst native Floridians in the southern parts of the state probably sums up the critics' observations better than most; although it is undeniably the southernmost point of America (Key West even has a marker to remind you of this) it is most certainly not the southernmost point when it comes to outlook or politics; one has to travel almost as far as the Alabama/Florida border to find something approaching typically southern.

Yet Florida is also a melting pot, a wonderful visual and cultural cacophony that provides Groff with a plethora of characters and backdrops that she would not be able to find anywhere else. Florida also provides in true gothic style that juxtaposition of the unexpected, where sleepy meets creepy, and there is a surprise in every story precisely because it is Florida, and southern is just not expected by the characters there.

Although the stories are all markedly different, several have recurring themes. What would you say is the central theme of the book as a whole?

The central theme of the book seems to be the dangers faced by women because of the dangers posed by men. None of the female characters has had an easy life prior to our meeting them in the stories; most of the difficulties can be attributed to the way in which they have experienced the men in their lives, both men they have known in their families, and those with whom they have had brief encounters.

Dogs Go Wild is the clearest example of this. Although the two girls in the story are contemplating the dangers inherent in their immediate situation, their musings and conversations reveal that the dangers they have faced in their past, and the dangers they face now because of damage caused by previous events, all come back to the dangers they faced at the hands of men.

What does the collection say about people in general?

Groff's collection of stories paints a rather bleak picture of human nature, in that the stories focus on abuse, danger and lack of character. Even the characters who do not find themselves in mortal peril at the hands of others still find themselves disappointed in the way they are treated. An example of this is Snake Stones, in which the protagonist finds herself taken for granted, despite having put herself in harm's way for someone else. This prompts her to think about the direction in which humankind is headed, and the way in which people seem to have little disregard for each other, and the little kindnesses they receive along their way.