GradeSaver, 5 December 2018 Web.A 1996 novel by Sapphire, Push earned numerous accolades before coming to the screen in 2009 as Precious: Based on the novel 'Push' by Sapphire, starring Gabourey Sidibe as Precious.Ĭlareece Jones, aka 'Precious,' is an obese, illiterate African-American teenager living in Harlem with her parents.

Next Section Quotes Previous Section Glossary How To Cite in MLA Format Anonymous 'Push (Precious) Themes'. Will review the submission and either publish your submission or provide feedback. You can help us out by revising, improving and updatingĪfter you claim a section you’ll have 24 hours to send in a draft. Rain's love brings Precious out of her shell, restoring the damage that Mary did to her daughter. Rain who (like rain at the end of a drought) shows Precious love, even when she can't really do much to help herself. These sacrifices should be contrasted to Mary's poor example. She paves a way for a better life for Abdul, and she even rears her older child with Down Syndrome. If Precious's mother represents hatred, then Precious herself represents the difficult sacrifices of love. She decides that even in the face of likely death, she will 'push' on, doing the best she can for her children. This hope ends up being ultimately challenged when Precious discovers that her father passed along the HIV virus to Precious during one of the times he raped her. This ends up being the root of Precious's sense of hope. Throughout the novel, Precious uses the word 'Push!' as a mantra, reminding her of the time she had to deliver a baby (at the young age of 12!) when the paramedics were telling her to keep pushing even though it hurt. In the end, Precious is almost all the way through high school when she meets the first kind woman she ever met: Ms. They make fun of her for her skin color and for her academic set-backs (also the product of mistreatment). They make fun of her for her weight (which is a product of the same abuse in this case).

The answer for Precious is that such unspeakable abuse from parents leaves her completely unable to relate successfully with her peers. What happens if instead of supporting and teaching her daughter, the mother becomes jealous and hateful, often beating her child? Or even worse, what happens when a father, instead of protecting and cherishing his daughter's life, decides to rape her? But this novel shows the other side of that coin. This happens when parents encourage children and support them, offering grace when the kid inevitably makes mistakes. One of the most important ways that a parent can help a child is by helping the child to understand their life in positive terms. Written by people who wish to remain anonymous We are thankful for their contributions and encourage you to make your own. These notes were contributed by members of the GradeSaver community.

Push book precious