Hooks’ “Inspired Eccentricity”: Relations With Mother

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Main body
Conclusion
Work Cited

Introduction

In the essay, Inspired Eccentricity, Hooks narrates how she related with her mother and unconventional grandparents. The author narrates how Baba (Sarah), the grandmother, was outspoken and scolding. On the other hand, she explains that Daddy Gus (Gus Oldham), the grandfather, was kind and gentle towards her. Hooks grew up with her grandparents until teenager. Consequently, she was not intimate with her mother. Throughout the book, Hooks narrates how the eccentricity she learned from her grandparents and her mother inspired her entire life (Hooks 291).

Main body

Hooks reported that her grandparents were instrumental in her successful childhood. She recalls how both Baba and Gus helped her through what she calls a painful childhood. Hooks claims the close relationship she had with her grandparents was instrumental in shaping her exceptional writing experience. She says, “I see in myself a mixture of these two very different but equally powerful figures from my childhood.” This is proof that Hooks and her grandparents related well. The confession further implies that the grandparents were keen to ensure that Hooks succeeds in her endeavors (Hooks 291).

Occasionally, Gus allowed Hooks to visit his private room. She argues that this was one of the greatest favors she got from her late grandfather. While there, she tells us how she enjoyed the tobacco smell that always filled the room. Hooks describes her grandfather as a generous man. She says, “Unlike all other grownups, he never cared about children looking through his things. Anything we wanted he gave us.” The author reports that Gus allowed them to play around with the scraps, wooden cigar objects and, diary collection inside his room, unlike other old people. Hooks is proud of her grandfather for having given her the first wallet, a diary book and, a pen. This generosity depicts that Hooks was on good terms with her grandfather. The fact that Hooks alleges to have enjoyed spending time in her grandfather’s house, it is unquestionable that Gus was a kind and sociable man (Hooks 292).

Hooks asserts that staying around Gus was rejuvenating. She narrates that when she sat close to Gus, she felt full of life again. Whenever Hooks visited Gus, she argues that she used to get relieved from all childhood challenges. For Hooks to declare that hanging around Gus was life soothing, the two must have been good friends. Furthermore, such confidence can only result from a good relationship Hooks had with her grandfather. Hooks in her narrative argues that Gus gave her the unconditional love she had longed for in her entire lifetime. This declaration implies that besides Gus being generous, he was humble, kind, and caring. Therefore, a good relationship between Hooks and her grandfather was quite helpful for a successful childhood. Furthermore, this good relationship was the source of hope in her life (Hooks 292).

Hooks’ experience with her grandmother, Baba, was a bit horrible. She narrates that Baba was so cussing that she could use any words to abuse her and others. For Hooks to confess this, Baba must have been highly abusive. Hooks found her grandmother’s behavior to be irritating, undesirable, and unbearable. The fact that Gus, Baba’s husband, opted to take a walk after Baba scolded him, confirmed Hooks’s argument that Baba’s cussing was unbearable. Hooks hated any moment that Baba scolded, insulted, or yelled at anyone (Hooks 293).

Baba’s talent in storytelling motivated Hooks’s writing skills. Hooks acknowledges that despite being cussing, Baba was a good storyteller. The author praises Baba for great metaphors and sayings despite being illiterate. Hooks recalls how Baba used to utter powerful sayings during her night storytelling. I agree with Hooks when she asserts that Baba was instrumental for the writing career she enjoys today. The fact that Baba used to narrate powerful stories must have been motivational to Hooks’ writing skills. No wonder Hooks says, “Baba used to live in the power of language.” Furthermore, Hooks reports that she loved to listen to the Baba’s stories. Hooks further argues that, during her storytelling, Baba would opt to repeat any part of the story she had not understood. This shows the commitment Baba had to ensure that Hooks comprehended the storytelling skills. That experience must have made Hooks the great writer we know today (Hooks 293).

The author also learned several artistic skills from her late grandmother. She asserts that Baba was an exceptional quilt maker. However, Hooks regret that she never became as professional as Baba. This was so because, by the time Hooks had grown enough to understand quilt making, her grandmother was not able to see properly. This meant that Baba could not train Hooks effectively since sewing requires sharp eyesight. Hooks recalls that, when Baba was energetic, she used to sew so many quilts such that every family member had one in his or her bed. The author confessed that the quilt Baba made her gave her warmth and comfort. Hooks also learned how to make feather mattresses from Baba. Nearly everybody in the family used the feather mattress that Baba had made. Hooks praises Baba as an outstanding artist who made her family’s bedding. Therefore, Hooks grew up in a setting where most households items were homemade from the readily available raw materials (Hooks 294).

Hooks was in constant conflict with her mother over various lessons she had learned from her grandparents. The mother hated the idea that children should believe in their thinking and that they should not bother about other people’s ideas. Hooks’ mother believed that children should be conformists. The mother hated the fact that Hooks had been raised in a setup where most household items were homemade. She preferred commodities that were manufactured in the industry and sold from the stores. On the other hand, Baba had taught Hooks how to trap, kill skin, and fry wild animals. In addition, she taught the author how to sew quilts as a mandatory women’s role in society. Hooks’ mother was skeptical when she transferred her old quilt from Kentucky to the new home in Stanford. This revealed the generational conflict that exists between the parents and their children (Hooks 295).

Conclusion

In summary, the eccentricity that existed between Hooks’ grandparents and the mother was inspirational to her life. Having grown up under the care of her unconventional grandparents, Hooks learned many life skills. Gus, the grandfather, taught Hooks how to be generous, kind, humble, and gentle. Additionally, she learned how to socialize with other people through her grandfather. Baba, the grandmother, was instrumental in Hooks’ writing career. The exceptional metaphors and sayings that Baba narrated to Hooks formed the foundation of the writing career she enjoys today. Hooks’ mother taught her the generational conflict that exists between parents and their children. Various conflicts that Hooks and her mother went through over the grandparent’s teaching taught her many life lessons too. Truly, the eccentricity that Hooks’s grandparents and the mother portrayed was inspirational to her entire life.

Work Cited

Hooks, Bell. Belonging: a culture of place. New York: Routledge, 2009. Print.

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Hooks’ “Inspired Eccentricity”: Relations With Mother

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