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: 1 Aug, 1946 Summary & Analysis

Summary
Analysis
Juliet shares with Sidney that Remy is in Guernsey. Remy is still very frail, intense, and reserved—unless she's with Kit. Amelia threw a dinner party on the night Remy arrived. Remy appeared comfortable with Amelia and relaxed around Dawsey. Juliet says that yesterday, she, Remy, and Kit built a sandcastle. As Kit played in the waves, Remy suggested that Elizabeth must've been like Kit once. Remy spoke about Elizabeth's plan to come home. They all thought they'd make it out alive, as they knew that the Germans were losing. Remy suggested it might've been better if Elizabeth hadn't had such a big heart.
Remy suggests that Elizabeth's kindness and compassion was actually a bad thing, though the text leaves the truth of this up to the reader. It does, however, turn Elizabeth's sacrifice into something noble that she did in order to try to make sure others had the chance to live with dignity, even if it was likely ineffective in doing so.
Themes
War, Hunger, and Humanity Theme Icon
Isola writes to Sidney. She's now the Secretary of the Society and wanted to share her minutes from the last meeting. One woman read part of her autobiography, after which the woman's husband wanted a divorce and Juliet and Amelia served cake to lighten the mood. Another member asked if she could read her own writing, and Isola suggested they have a special meeting next week so that she can talk about Jane Austen. In closing, Isola offers to secretly swear Sidney in as a member of the Society.
The offer to swear Sidney into the Society shows that Isola now thinks of Sidney as a member and wants to make it official. This indicates that even if the chosen family of the Society is chosen, there are still rules and regulations (albeit house rules) guiding how the family is built and organized.
Themes
Family, Parenting, and Legitimacy Theme Icon