Similarities

            I find Esch very similar to the protagonist of the “The Most Girl Part of You,” particularly in chapter 7. They both characterize a feeble female main character, who get taken advantage of by other men. Even though they are taken advantage of sexually, neither of them speak up against it or do anything to resist. In addition to not standing up for themselves, their general willingness to concede things and not voice a strong opinion is evident in both passages. In “The Most Girl Part of You,” the protagonist sympathizes with all of the self-harming things that he does to himself, and never makes an effort to disagree with him or speak up against something. Throughout “Salvage the Bones,” but particularly in chapter 7, Esch leaves the arguing to others, even when it concerns herself. She is too afraid to openly admit, even to her own family, that Manny has harmed her, and she leaves the fighting over it to others. In the confrontation between Manny and Skeetah, she doesn’t say a word. The conceding nature of both characters is similar between the stories.