58 pages • 1 hour read
Tananarive DueThe Reformatory: A Novel
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2023A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Essay Topics
The Reformatory ends with the death of Warden Haddock, whose administrative reign will further be discredited by the exposure of his crimes. How might the titular Reformatory change to better fulfill its institutional mission? Can the Reformatory be reformed, or should it be abolished?
The concept of the reform school combines the functions of penal and educational institutions. How might this combination point to the limitations of our current educational system? In what ways does the educational system restrain the needs of present-day learners?
The Reformatory, set in the historical Jim Crow South, explores themes of racism, community, and resolution in the 20th century. How does the novel’s indictment of historical and institutional racism relate to contemporary manifestations of the same issue? What can Due’s novel tell us about the of oppression Black communities today?
What other novels or short stories are set in the Jim Crow South? Compare and contrast them to The Reformatory by discussing how these works frame their historical setting. Whose perspectives are privileged? How do they enrich your understanding of the period?
Research the origin of the term “haint” and discuss how Due revises its meaning to align with her novel’s objectives.
Due was inspired to write The Reformatory because of a relative who was killed at the historical Dozier School. She conducted extensive research with family members and Dozier School survivors to paint an accurate portrait of reform schools in the Jim Crow South. Using Due’s methodology, what stories might you excavate from your family history? Interview family members to substantiate your narrative.
Gloria meets several characters who are afraid to speak up because they fear the repercussions for their loved ones and families. What does it mean that these characters belong to other marginalized groups like the lesbian community? How does this relate to the concept of intersectionality?
Gloria’s quest to liberate her brother forces several characters to assess their privilege and see how they can use it to help others. In what ways can you extend help to marginalized people in your community? Does this ability to help necessarily mean that you are privileged? Assess and discuss what enables you to extend your solidarity to others.
Due uses a braided narrative structure to tell the stories of Robbie and Gloria equally. Examine the author’s narrative decisions by discussing when she shifts from Robbie’s narrative to Gloria’s and vice versa.
The United States has a long history of colonizing foreign territories under the justifications of “benevolent assimilation” and “manifest destiny.” How do these justifications mirror Haddock’s belief that “chastening” boys will turn them into better people? Use this comparison to guide your exploration of how the United States has colonized other countries.
