The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

by

Ann Shaffer

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The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society: Part 2: 17 Jul, 1946 Summary & Analysis

Summary
Analysis
Juliet tells Sidney that she hasn't found a diary, but Elizabeth did draw until she ran out of supplies. Most of the drawings are of Kit or Society members. There's one of Christian. Upon seeing the drawing, Amelia explained that she'd been set against Christian, as she was afraid. Christian came to visit Amelia the next day. Amelia was afraid he was going to take her house, but he nervously told her that when the war ended, he intended to come back, marry Elizabeth, grow flowers, and forget about the war. This made Amelia change her mind about him.
In the absence of a diary, Elizabeth's drawings allow Juliet to "read" and understand who was important enough to Elizabeth to draw over and over again. This shows Juliet whom Elizabeth was closest to. Amelia's story about Christian turns him into a man and divorces him from his post as a Nazi, as he clearly means to defer to Amelia and accept her power as the Society matriarch.
Themes
Literature and Connection Theme Icon
War, Hunger, and Humanity Theme Icon
Quotes
Juliet also says that Will Thisbee called yesterday to ask her about which mysterious woman, Miss X or Miss Y, she would marry were she a man. Both women were clearly locals and neither was particularly friendly, and Juliet suggested that if he needed to ask, he probably shouldn't marry either of them. Juliet discovered that Will had asked a bunch of others and it made her feel like an islander that he asked her too.
As Juliet notes, Will's inclusion of Juliet in his poll shows that she's becoming a valued member of the Guernsey family. Her answer suggests that she's also coming to better conclusions about love and marriage, and recognizes that it's not a good thing to settle for someone that one knows won't make them happy.
Themes
Family, Parenting, and Legitimacy Theme Icon
Women, Marriage, and Work Theme Icon