The Memory Keeper's Daughter Section 4 #1

In the novel The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards, the theme of fear is still prevalent. In section 2, I talked about the theme of fear. The examples I gave were that David fear that he made the wrong decision and Caroline fears for Phoebe. Caroline's fear for Phoebe continues into the four section. But this time, it is for a different reason. The theme of fear comes into play again when Phoebe wants to get married to Robert. "'Me and Robert' Phoebe said 'We're getting married'" (Edwards, 392). She fears Phoebe leaving the nest to go and live in the group home with Robert. Once they are married, Caroline will no longer have any control over Phoebe's life. She fears that she will no longer be able to protect her. She has always worried about people taking advantage of Phoebe for her disabilities. But since both Robert and Phoebe have down syndrome, there is no one to look out for either of them. Caroline feels that both of them will be taken advantage of and they have no one to look out for their safety and best interest. Since the beginning of the novel, we have seen Caroline's fear for Phoebe develop and grow stronger as Phoebe grows older and older.