Critique of Push
After reading Push by
Sapphire I felt like I wanted to go out and do something positive and uplifting
because the novel was so intense. However, when I read Push the second time; I
realized that I missed many of the hurdles and problems that Precious was able
to overcome. So I started thinking about what made this possible for Precious?
What are some lessons that can be learned and applied?
I recognized 15 factors that helped Precious overcome; I hope
this will inspire you to overcome your problems and inspire you to help others
to do the same.
1. Precious had a desire for better:
I really want to
learn. Everyday I tell myself something gonna happen…I’m gonna break through or
somebody gonna break through to me—I’m gonna learn, catch up, be normal, change
my seat to the front of the class.
2. Precious
experienced genuine affection:
I try to turn away
from her Mississippi self but she in the bed now pulling my chest and shoulders
into her arms…I feel warm kindness from her I never feel from mama and I start
to cry…I crying for me who no one never hold before.
3. Precious
found her ticket out and persevered:
I is ready. Ready
for school. School something…School gonna help me get out dis house.
4. Precious
did something different. She took a risk and conquered the fear and limits of
her past experiences:
The whole class
quiet. Everybody starring at me, God don’t let me cry. I takes in air through
my nose, a big breath, then I start to walk slow to the back. But something
like birds or light fly through my heart. And my feet stop. At the first row.
An’ for the first time in my life I sits down in the front row.
5. Precious’
strengths were recognized:
“Everybody do
something good”, Ms Rain say in soft voice. I shake my head, can’t think of
nuffin’ I’m staring at my shoes. “One thing.” Ms. Rain. “I can cook.”
6. Precious
took the necessary first step although it was small:
The longest journey begin with a single step, as said by Ms.
Rain. Precious’ first step was to learn the alphabet and its correct order. A
small step but this step helped her with subsequent giant future steps, leaps
and bounds.
7. Precious
worked up the courage to voice her areas of need so that she could get help:
I struggle for air.
“I…the pages look alike to me.” I breave in deep, there I said it.
8. Precious
had someone who believed in her; recognized her potential and was relentless
about seeing her succeed:
I think I understand
you, Precious. But for now, I want you to try, push yourself Precious, go for
it.
9. Precious
received positive reinforcement:
“What’s that word?”
I say “Ate.” She say, “Good! Almost! That word is “at.”…I want to cry. I want
to laugh. I want to hug kiss Miz Rain. She make me feel good.
10. There
was high expectations of Precious:
Everyone that Precious came in contact with prior to Ms. Rain
did not expect much from her and saw her as dumb and treated her as such. Ms.
Rain recognized the potential in Precious and expected a lot from her because
of it.
Rhonda say out loud,
“How we gonna write for fifteen minutes if we can’t spell?” What we gonna write
if we could spell, I wonder. Miz Rain say, “Write what’s on your mind, push
yourself to see the letters that represent the words you’re thinking.”
11. Precious
recognized that she is someone of value:
I = I somebody.
Inside I thought was
so beautiful, is a black girl too.
He my shiny brown
boy. In his beauty I see my own.
12. Precious
recognized that the abuse she suffered was not her fault:
I don’t feel
ashamed—Carl Kenwood Jones freak NOT me!
13. Precious
had one person she could trust:
Precious trusted her teacher Ms. Rain and turned to her in her
most helpless moment in life when she had nowhere to go. More importantly, Ms.
Rain responded and did not let her down.
14. Precious
had a good support system:
The girls in Precious’ class were there for her and had similar experiences.
They were able to share their stories and help each other heal.
They (the girls) and
Ms. Rain is my friends and family.
At least when I look
at the girls I see them and when they look they see ME, not
what I look like.
Precious also had good community support. She found help through
the abuse support group and the HIV Positive support group. Both groups helped
her connect with and talk to others who could relate to her problems;
consequently Precious did not feel alone.
15. Precious
acknowledged when things were beginning to go well and moved on:
I’m alive inside. A
bird is my heart. Mama and daddy is not win. I’m winning.
Rita say forget the
WHY ME sh@# and git on to what’s next.
Are you ready to PUSH?
I found this review really interesting as it suggests an
attitude gained from reading the book that was so completely different from
mine. The author of this review has been able to take positives away from ‘Push’
where, to be honest; I felt there were next to none. While it’s true that
Precious goes on a life-altering, inspirational journey, that drew me in and
made me root for her, I found the over-all message to be one of desolation, depression
and hopelessness. It was emotional to see Precious reach so high, start to make
something better of herself and her son, only for her to find that there is a
death sentence hanging over her head. Was it not enough for her to have been raped
and impregnated repeatedly by her father, physically and sexually abused by her
mother and have her mentally and physically impaired child taken away from her?
While I understand that it was not Sapphires intention to write a ‘happily-ever-ending’
story, there is realism and then there is the equivalent of a Shakespearian
tragedy devoid of any of the romance, joy, and hope that make it bearable. What
made the book even more heart-breaking was the lack of any real message, all
that could be drawn from this oppressing novel was that no matter how hard you
try to escape your beginnings, they will forever shape who you are and how your
life will turn out. Interestingly this is in direct confliction with the
American Dream.
