From Ma's accident, to starving cattle, to dust storms capable of disrupting lives and livelihoods, Billie Jo and the people around her definitely do more than their share of suffering. If Out of the Dust teaches us one thing, it's that life for people in the Dust Bowl was one challenge after another. Imagine working hard to clean your house or replace your wheat crop that's already blown away a few times, only to have to face the task of doing it over again. The obstacles Billie Jo and other characters face painfully illustrate the sorrows of this period in history.
Questions About Suffering
- How are the ways that Billie Jo and her father respond to Ma's death similar and different?
- Which description of suffering in the book affected you the most? What about its images, details, and emotions caused you to respond this way?
- Apart from the loss of her mother, what aspect of the Dust Bowl's conditions is most painful for Billie Jo?
- What can the characters' suffering teach readers about life in the Dust Bowl?
Chew on This
The accident and Billie Jo's subsequent pain mirror the suffering of the land, people, and animals of the Dust Bowl.
The experiences of minor characters play a crucial role in developing the novel's theme of suffering.