Responses to Chapter 4, from the novel The Gilda Stories By Jewelle Gomez

 

Goldie Barajas 

English 15 

4/20/11

Responses to Chapter 4, from the novel

The Gilda Stories

By Jewelle Gomez

• In chapter 4, from the novel The Gilda Stories by Jewelle Gomez, we find Gilda living in the South End of Boston; she is no longer in San Francisco/ Yerba Buena. At the opening of the chapter we find out that Gilda owns a beauty shop. 
• As far as characters we see old and we are introduced to new ones in this chapter. Characters we have met before include: Gilda and Bird. We learn that Gilda has moved from homes and that she now owns a beauty shop. We also learn that Gilda has come to be wiser ever since Bird left. Gilda has come to learn some of the lessons of life in being a vampire. Such as: the importance "of healing the past" (pg.141) In addition, Bird finally comes back in this chapter and we learn that she has never fully let go of Gilda. Bird has always been there in thoughts watching after her. Perhaps, we get a better insight into Bird's value for Gilda. 
• Nevertheless, in this chapter we are introduced to new characters. We learn about Savannah, Toya, Fox, and Skip. Savannah is one of Gilda's customers at the beauty shop. She is also Skip's lover. Skip is one that used to inject himself with heroin or still does we do not know that for sure. Toya is a young girl running away from Fox, the antagonist, that is trying to kill her for leaving him. Fox is also a vampire, a bad one of course.
• In conclusion, the main conflict driving the story is an external conflict, person vs. person. The conflict is between Gilda and Fox. Gilda is struggling to save Toya's life since Fox is trying to kill Toya and whoever gets in his way of doing so. By the end of the chapter, the conflict is resolved. Gilda succeeds at ending with Fox's life, freeing Toya from him.