It is evident from the being of the novel The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry, that Dr. Grene has an interest in Roseanne McNulty. Yes, of course he is required to evaluate the patients due to the facility being closed, but his interest in Roseanne seems a bit more than strictly work related. Roseanne was an admired woman County Slido, she was beautiful and it had an impact on how men treated her. With that in mind, there were many intersections between women’s sexuality and religion throughout the novel.
Cultural codes “speak the familiar ‘truths’ of the existing cultural order, repeat what has ‘always been already read, seen, done, experienced'” (Silverman 242).
As Kassidy wrote in the last blog, this theme of women’s sexuality and religion has been evident throughout history, since the beginning of history. There are many references to cultural codes from the past that Kassidy touched on but I find so many present today in 2019. I feel as if it’s not enough to say something like we teach students today about the past so history won’t repeat itself. History in fact does repeat itself, maybe not in the same exact way, but it does repeat itself. Women are no longer bought off by their fathers to farmers, but like Roseanne, women are held to different standards as men are. Roseanne could be explained in my opinion as “over sexualized” and throught the novel this gives the reader the feeling that she is different from an “average” looking female.
This oversexualizing women is evident in The Secret Sculpture just like it is today. It’s safe to assume most could compare this to the MeToo movement. After finally gaining the courage to speak up about their sexual harassment or assult many of these women were not believed, like Roseanne. Women coming forward during the MeToo movement were often questioned if they were partially at fault, like Roseanne as well.
This novel was published in 2008 and took place around World War II. Although it is clear we can pick up on cultural code throughout that time period, I don’t find there to be a dramatic differences from then until now. In more ways than most would be comfortable with acknowledging, we are very much so- in this same culture about women’s sexuality as we were when my great grandparents were my age.
KKJM Reads 
I thought it was really interesting how you continued the discussion of religion and women’s sexuality into present day. I agree that the cultural code is definitely evident throughout this text, but I also felt that a symbolic code was at work when Roseanne was pregnant and went to visit her in-laws to ask for help. The symbolic code here was between those who were helpless and those who were powerful. Throughout the day, Roseanne walked miles and miles to the McNulty’s house to ask for help with her pregnancy, since she had nowhere else to turn. Still, the McNulty’s, who could have done any number of things, such as allow her to stay the night or help her find a doctor, turned her away while she was practically in labor. This play between those with power and those without brought the story of Jesus’s birth to mind. Roseanne, who despite becoming pregnant due to her own choices, had not had any control over her life for years prior to that. One could argue that her loneliness drove her to make the choice that she did with Eneas, rather than her desire for him. Meanwhile, in the Bible, Mary was not given the choice to become pregnant, yet still no one would help her. When Roseanne was walking back down the mountain from the McNulty’s house and no one offered to help or home her, despite the fact that she was clearly struggling, it reminded me a lot of Mary trying to find a place to give birth to Jesus. Likewise, when she ended up giving birth on the rocks on the beach, it brought to mind Mary having her baby in a stable. I thought that this was an interesting use of symbolism by the author if that’s what he was trying to evoke using these similarities, and something that could be worth exploring in your annotated bibliography.
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I genuinely love how you took something that is so modern and intertwined it into a story that is set in the past. The story takes place both early in Roseanne’s life and also later as it is told from the perspective of Dr. Grene. That being said, is it possible that Dr.Grene could be implementing certain stereotypes in certain sections? Also, given Roseanne’s character, is Roseanne a victim of an unlawful form of justice? Since she was committed and deemed mentally incapable, could she have been set free if someone didn’t deem her as unstable? Perhaps if it was a man who sentenced her to spend time in the mental hospital that he could be projecting his own personal stereotypes which unlawfully committed her?
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After reading what Jake and Kassidy’s comments after reading your post, it’s interesting to me on how you all have agreed that there is sexualization with Roseanne. At first, I didn’t think of something like this because of the fact that she is portrayed as such an old woman and Dr. Grene is supposed to be this support system for her. I later notice when reading deeper that he does in fact have this strange interest in her. Also, Jake– I think if someone else was there for her, I don’t think she would be in the position that she was in at the mental asylum.
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