Kaylyn Johnson
Dr. Price
English 1102
22 February 2022
Who is Margo Crane
One of the most outstanding traits of Margo Crane is her ability to overcome. Through
an abandonment, multiple deaths, rapes, and the simple agony of “letting go,” Margo never
lost sight of what her life had ahead of her. Thanks to the inspiration of both Annie Oakley’s
stories and her grandfather’s obliging lessons, Margo managed to make a purpose out of the
spine- chilling process. It wasn’t the purpose, though, that drove Margo’s character to become
who she did. It was actually the exact opposite. The process that played out Margo’s life as we
know it is exactly what built her into who we know her to be.
One of the most traumatic processes was the abandonment by her mother. After raising
her, she left her with only a note and no other explanation. “Dear Margret Louise, I hope you
know I’m not abandoning you. I want to bring you with me, but first I need to find myself and I
can’t do it in this place. Take care of your daddy and I’ll contact you soon. Love, Mom.”
(Campbell 33). Margo discovers this letter on the kitchen table and begins to read it. Her face
immediately sinks, and she is heartbroken. As she gets older, she wonders why her mother
abandoned her and whether she actually loved Margo as she stated in the letter. Margo does
not let this discourage her from becoming the person we know her to be at the end of the
book. Another individual she had a close relationship with got sent away. Margo was bullied by
her cousin Billy and others, and Junior Murry used to watch out for her at school due to this.
“Junior used to look out for her at school, but the day after Cal caught him smoking pot for the
third time this summer, he packed him up and sent him away to military academy out west.”
(Campbell 30). Margo began to rely on him in school, and when he departed for Military
College, she was forced to learn to fend for herself.
Throughout the book, there are several deaths that have an impact on Margo and how
she moves forward. First, her grandpa, with whom she had a strong relationship, passes away
peacefully. “Grandpa Murry had died slowly, gradually disappearing and giving Margo time to
imagine life without him…” (Campbell 50). Despite the fact that Grandpa Murry died quietly
