The Spectacular

Examine Peter’s reasons for ending his relationship with Marion. Did this decision take away her control or empower her? Support your answer with specific examples from the text.

Marion often makes significant realizations when she visits iconic New York City landmarks. Choose one such landmark and explore its significance to her life. Do the changes that these landmarks undergo over the years reflect the inner changes that Marion herself experiences? Use examples from the text to support your analysis.

What causes strain in Marion and Judy’s relationship while the girls are adolescents, and how do they work to repair their relationship as adults?

Why does Davis choose to alternate between a first-person narrator (Marion) for the 1992 timeline and a third-person narrator for the 1956 timeline? How does this stylistic choice influence Marion’s character development?

Although many other male characters find the Rockettes attractive and talented, they show limited interest in pursuing committed relationships with them. Why? How does this fit in with the novel’s themes about control?

While Marion sacrifices her freedom to benefit her family, Simon sacrifices his civic responsibility by hiding the Martinek file to protect Met Power. How do Marion’s sacrifices differ from Simon’s?

Peter fights against forced institutionalization and the tendency of most psychologists to overmedicate their patients. How does Peter’s work in psychiatry illustrate aspects of Asserting Control in an Unpredictable World?

Marion advises Piper not to forfeit her dream of working as a dancer. She explains, “The key, my dear, is to make sure you don’t disappoint yourself” (247). What does Marion mean by this? Use at least three examples from the text to support your analysis.