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DISCUSSION QUESTIONS White Ivy |
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1. After
finishing the novel, reexamine the title. What do you think it
refers to? In what ways can the title be interpreted?
3. Since
middle school, Ivy values appearances and decorum. She believes that
“Muddy water, let stand, becomes clear” (p. 39). She wants others to
think that she is morally upright, and she is ashamed when Roux catches
her stealing. Why do you think Ivy values the appearance of propriety?
How much of it is from her family and how much of it is from her
environment?
4. Meifeng
shares with Ivy the story about how her parents got together. Years
later, Ivy learns new details of that story from her own mother. How
does Ivy’s evolving understanding of her parents’ history inform how she
pursues her goals?
5. Ivy
meets Dave, Gideon’s mentor, and his wife, Liana, an Asian woman, at a
party. How does their interracial relationship differ from that of Ivy
and Gideon?
6. Ivy
thinks at one point, “Perhaps this was the secret to a lasting marriage:
to always uphold a veil of mystery between each other” (p. 147). Does
this veil exist in her relationship with Gideon? Does it exist in her
relationship with Roux? Why or why not?
7. Ivy’s
and Gideon’s families meet for the first time on Thanksgiving. How do
their families’ cultures clash? How do their cultural differences
manifest in the discussion about the wedding?
8. Throughout
Ivy’s childhood, her parents are strict and frugal. Later on, her
parents attain middle-class legitimacy and are more supportive of her.
How does Ivy’s relationship to her parents develop over the course of
the book?
9. Ivy
is ambitious and covets privilege. She longs for money, access and
legitimacy. What different desires do Gideon and Roux satisfy in Ivy? In
what ways do their respective relationships remain unsatisfactory for
her?
10. In
a violent altercation, Ivy and Roux hit each other. Afterward, Roux says
“I love you” for the first time. How do Roux’s childhood and past
relationships influence his behavior toward Ivy?
11. Ivy
dyes her hair blond before making a crucial decision in the book. What
does her blond hair signify?
12. What
do White Anglo-Saxon Protestants (WASPs) exemplify for Ivy? What
attraction do they hold, and how does Gideon exemplify this ideal?
13. Why
does Ivy struggle to embrace her Chinese culture?
14. On
her wedding day, Ivy learns not only a truth about Gideon, but also
about Sylvia’s role in their relationship. How does Sylvia protect her
brother?
15. In
your opinion, does Ivy succeed in the end? Is she happy? |
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