Lucille

As we progress through Housekeeping we see Lucille's growing hostility towards Sylvie, and eventually Ruth. The first instance where I saw Lucille start to change was when she said she wanted to start eating regular dinner foods of meat and vegetables, rather than breakfast for dinner every night.

After that Lucille picks the sequins off the shoes Sylvie gave her, Lucille's outburst about Sylvie's husband, and Lucille's anger when Ruth doesn't want to help make Lucille's dress. At first all of these are pointed towards Sylvie, but as time goes on she gets frustrated with Ruth. Lucille decides they need other friends than each other. This isn't a bad idea, but it comes at a time when Ruth is starting to resemble Sylvie more and more.

It is already apparent that Lucille does not approve of or enjoy Sylvie's way of life. Lucille values domesticity, order, and housekeeping. These are qualities that Sylvie does not possess. She tries to make the house nice for the girls, she buys things she enjoys, but she does not keep things in the tip top shape Lucille wants.

Lucille craves a sense of belonging. She goes so far as to try to reason with Ruth about their mother's habits and even her death. By forcing these ideas onto someone else we get to see what Lucille really wants. She wants that doting motherly figure to watch over her and Ruth. She wants a housekeeper who feeds them and gives them their vitamins. Lucille wants to be more like her grandmother and tries hard to push away the ways of Sylvie.

When Ruth starts to act more like Sylvie she starts to spend more time away from the house and with the girls at the drug store. When Ruth tries to read with her and disturbs her she will say something to "Ruthie." Although Lucille has called her "Ruthie" in the past, she now only calls her "Ruthie" and it seems to be belittling to her.

It will be interesting to see how Lucille's character changes within Ruth's coming-of-age.