Question

powerfully it can barely be contained. i can hear its heartbeat! her husband exclaimed. hed been her lover then, young, vigorous, dreamy. caressing the rock - hard belly, splendid white tight - stretched skin, mr. dietrich gave mrs. dietrich a reproduction on stiff glossy paper of dante gabriel rossettis beata beatrix, embarrassed, apologetic, knowing it was sentimental and perhaps a little silly but that was how he thought of her — so beautiful, rapturous, pregnant with their child. she told no one but she knew the baby was to be a girl. it would be herself again, reborn and this time perfect.

30 \oh, mother — isnt it beautiful!\ nola exclaims.

31 it is past noon. past twelve - thirty. mrs. dietrich and nola have made the rounds of a half - dozen stores, traveled countless escalators, one clothing department has blended into the next and the chic smiling saleswomen have become indistinguishable, and mrs. dietrich is beginning to feel the urgent need for a glass of white wine. just a glass. \isnt it beautiful? its perfect,\ nola says. her eyes glow with pleasure, her smooth skin is radiant. modeling in the three - way mirror a queer little yellow - and - black striped sweater with a ribbed waist, punk style, mock cheap, mrs. dietrich feels the motherly obligation to register a mild protest, knowing nola will not hear. she must have it and will have it. shell wear it a few times, then retire it to the bottom of a drawer with so many other novelty sweaters, accumulated since sixth grade. (shes like her mother in that regard — cant bear to throw anything away.)

32 \isnt it beautiful?\ nola demands, studying her reflection in the mirror.

paragraph 29

1. what was mrs. dietrichs point of view about nola during her pregnancy?

Explanation:

From the text, Mrs. Dietrich saw her unborn daughter (who became Nola) as a chance to be her "perfect" self reborn. When Nola is a teen, Mrs. Dietrich views her as impulsive about trivial things like trendy sweaters, and recognizes Nola shares her habit of hoarding unused items, while also feeling a quiet, unheeded maternal duty to protest Nola's fleeting, frivolous purchases.

Answer:

Mrs. Dietrich believed her unborn daughter (Nola) would be her own perfect reborn self. As an older teen, she sees Nola as impulsive about trendy, short-lived items like the punk-style sweater, notes Nola shares her habit of keeping unused things, and feels a maternal obligation to mildly protest Nola's frivolous choices even though she knows Nola will ignore her.