Life Cycle of a Moth by Rowe Irvin review captivating story of maternal love and male violence
Briefly

Maya and Daughter exist in isolation, surrounded by a fence made of personal relics, living a life defined by rituals for safety. Their days involve chores, while nights are spent playing a game of imagination. The story alternates between Daughter's innocent perspective and Maya's troubled past with family violence. Daughter's vocabulary is simplified, reflecting her sheltered upbringing. Maya warns her about the dangers of outside world dwellers, referred to as Rotters, who threaten their existence. The increasing complexity of Maya's control over Daughter’s worldview unfolds as the narrative progresses.
The fence is secured with Keep-Safes fingernails, Daughter's first teeth, the umbilical cord that once joined them to protect them from intruders.
Maya has created this life for herself and her daughter as a refuge from the brutality of the world beyond the fence's perimeter.
Maya tells Daughter that their rituals protect them against Rotters, people living beyond the fence, who are empty on the inside.
Maya has taught Daughter only the words she needs for their existence, so although Daughter is 15, her language is childlike.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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