# I explained — The Getting of Wisdom

> Chapter companion for The Getting of Wisdom by Henry Handel Richardson.

## What happens

On her last night at home before leaving for boarding school, Laura Rambotham cuts off one of her prized curls to bind a bouquet for her mother, hoping to prove her selflessness. Her mother reacts with anger, upset that Laura has disfigured herself. Laura feels misunderstood and retreats to her room, but her natural buoyancy returns as she finds a way to hide the gap. The chapter establishes the tension between Laura's desire for approval and her mother's stern expectations, as well as Laura's pride in her hair and her dramatic fainting spell that has set her apart in the family.

## Themes in this chapter

### Family and Maternal Expectations

Laura's attempt to please her mother through self-sacrifice is met with anger, highlighting the gap between Laura's intentions and her mother's expectations.

### Female Adolescence and Sexuality

Laura's pride in her curls and her fainting spell mark her as special and set her apart, reflecting early adolescent identity formation.

## Character check-ins

### Laura Rambotham

Cuts off a curl to make a bouquet for her mother, feels misunderstood, and struggles with her mother's disapproval.

### Pin

Tearfully tries to intercede on Laura's behalf and understands both her sister and mother.

### Mother

Angry at Laura's self-inflicted haircut, but later shows a hint of amusement and secretly saves the curl.

### Leppie

One of the younger brothers who laughs at Laura's appearance.

### Little Frank

The other younger brother who joins Leppie in laughing at Laura.

## Key lines

> it would please you, mother," she sobbed. "I will not have you interfering, Pin, when I'm speaking to Laura. She's old enough by now to know what I like and what I don't," said Mother, who was vexed at the thought of the child going among strangers thus disfigured.

Pin tries to defend Laura's gesture, but Mother dismisses her, annoyed that Laura has made herself look odd before leaving for school.

_Shows the conflict between Laura's intent and Mother's practical concerns._

> Her natural buoyancy of spirit was beginning to reassert itself. By brushing her hair well to one side she could cover up the gap, she found; and after all, there was something rather pleasant in knowing that you were misunderstood. It made you feel different from everyone else.

Laura's resilient nature returns as she discovers she can hide the cut and even enjoys the feeling of being misunderstood, which sets her apart.

_Highlights Laura's resilience and her romanticization of being an outsider._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_getting_of_wisdom_se/chapters/i
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_getting_of_wisdom_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_getting_of_wisdom_se/chapters