55 pages 1 hour read

Rebecca Wells

Divine Secrets Of The Ya-Ya Sisterhood

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1996

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Background

Geographical Context: Louisiana

Louisiana is located in the southeastern United States and its southern coast lies on the Gulf of Mexico. In the summer, temperatures can reach 100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. Its high humidity levels make the area muggy and wet in the summers and cold and damp in the winters. The Louisiana wetland, also known as the bayou, is famous for its unique landscape that combines massive trees, deep rivers, and marshes. It is home to a wide variety of animals, perhaps the most famous of which is the alligator. The girls of the Ya-Ya tribe claim a profound and ancient connection to the land, and they spend most of their time outdoors, surrounded by cypress trees or nestled in the creek of the bayou. Alligators are used as a metaphor in the novel during the Ya-Ya ritual to symbolize the fears and pains of life from which the women protect one another.

The sections of Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood that follow Vivi’s story are set in the heart of the Louisiana bayou, primarily in a town called Thornton. The novel’s setting is as dynamic and essential as its characters, providing a vivid backdrop to important scenes, as well as a connection to the history and land that the Ya-Yas hail from.

blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
Unlock IconUnlock all 55 pages of this Study Guide
Plus, gain access to 8,650+ more expert-written Study Guides.
Including features:
+ Mobile App
+ Printable PDF
+ Literary AI Tools