The bond between sisters is unique and special, even if it can be challenging to like them at times. However, that doesn’t mean there is no love between them. It’s okay to acknowledge and dislike certain qualities of your sister internally, but if someone else dares to criticize her, you’re ready to defend her.
Sisters are not identical; they have their own distinct characteristics, styles, and personalities. One thing remains true though: they are the only ones who truly understand your family’s history because they experienced it too.
I once came across a quote about sisters that struck me as particularly intriguing: “Sisters are different flowers from the same garden.” This statement rings especially true for the McGrath sisters in the McGrath garden where three beautiful and distinct flowers blossomed: Lenny, Meg, and Babe.
All three sisters endured their father’s abandonment and witnessed their mother’s suicide; however, each sister coped with or didn’t cope with the traumatic events of their childhood in her own way. They felt isolated in their suffering until circumstances brought them back together again. In an extreme act of desperation resulting from her own personal struggles, Babe shot her husband.
The reunion of the three sisters demonstrates that their childhood troubles still have a profound impact on their adult lives. Among them, Lenny, the eldest sibling, is depicted as a straightforward individual with low self-esteem, easily influenced by others’ opinions. People frequently exploit her vulnerability to bring her down for their own gain. Lenny’s self-worth has been tarnished by her physical condition – she has a problematic ovary – Granddad has consistently reminded her about it. Consequently, she believes she is undeserving of being in a committed relationship due to her inability to bear children.
Lenny’s cousin, Chickie Boyle, constantly belittles her family. She specifically mentions that their reputation is tarnished due to Meg being labeled as “cheap Christmas trash” throughout the county. Chickie’s words have made Lenny feel ashamed and embarrassed about her own family, especially considering her mother’s suicide. As a result, Lenny uses the responsibility of taking care of Granddad as an excuse to avoid building a life for herself. However, when Granddad is hospitalized, Lenny decides to join a singles group called Lonely Hearts of the South, where she eventually meets Charlie.
Despite seeming to have a great bond with him, she eventually allows her insecurities about her bad ovary to overpower her and ends the relationship without informing him. Throughout the play, she develops resentment towards Meg for always getting whatever she desires. Meg, the middle sister, is depicted as a carefree individual who moved to California under the pretense of pursuing her singing career. She has limited communication with her sisters, to the extent that Lenny had to send her a telegram to inform her about Babe. Meg is somewhat rebellious and pays little attention to other people’s opinions or words.
Despite being warned about the risks and potential development of lung cancer, Meg’s cousin Chickie discovers her smoking. However, Meg disregards this concern and refers to her interest in smoking as “taking a drag of death.” Surprisingly, it was actually Meg who came across her mother’s deceased body following her suicide. This distressing encounter has profoundly influenced Meg, leaving her emotionally numb and detached from others. Consequently, she has adopted a self-centered demeanor and lacks empathy towards those around her. In one specific instance, she admits to her former partner Doc Porter that she no longer desires to feel emotions or care about anything whatsoever. The significant impact of discovering her mother’s lifeless body has led Meg to disconnect from reality.
The reason for her relocation to California was her longing to leave behind her history and establish a fresh life devoid of constant reminders of the challenges she and her siblings faced. Being the youngest among the three, Babe married an older and wealthy attorney at just eighteen years old in search of stability and a feeling of belonging. She is easily influenced by any form of attention from males, which made her susceptible to engaging in a relationship with Willie Jay, a fifteen-year-old African American boy. Babe confesses to Meg that her involvement with Willie Jay occurred due to intense feelings of isolation.
Babe differs from her older sisters by having a fear of being alone, unlike them who choose to suppress their life experiences. Babe keeps a scrapbook that includes both positive and negative memories, with the intention of having a physical reminder of what she has gone through. When Lenny asks Babe why she documents these events, Babe simply responds, “I Just like to keep an accurate record.” Surprisingly, Babe’s imprisonment turns out to be advantageous as it brings the sisters closer together. Through supporting each other, the sisters are able to overcome their troubled pasts and realize that only siblings can truly understand the dynamics of their home life.
It is unnecessary to hide the truth since everyone knows it. The important family gathering helps Lenny understand her value and her right to live her own life. She should not be blamed for her mother’s actions or labeled as a bad person. Just like anyone else, she deserves to be happy. In the end, she finds the courage to confront cousin Chickie and protect her sisters because she realizes they have also faced similar difficulties. Lenny begins to feel proud of her family and stops feeling ashamed of the challenging circumstances they have experienced. She musters up the bravery to reach out to Charlie and share the truth about her problem.
Despite her concerns about his acceptance, she is not worried, as she has learned to accept herself with the assistance of her sisters. Moreover, Meg acknowledges that her past still prevents her from experiencing happiness, even after moving to a new state. However, during an outing with Doc, she discovers the ability to embrace her emotions. Having suppressed her feelings for so long, she believed she had lost them entirely. Consequently, the curse is now broken, resulting in unparalleled happiness. Additionally, when Babe attempts suicide, Meg learns the motivation behind her mother’s actions: fear of dying and a sense of loneliness that led her to take the cat along.
With the freedom from her curse, the babe also realizes that bad days are inevitable, but her sisters offer support to help overcome them, ensuring she is not alone. Ultimately, the three sisters realize the importance of each other. Together, they learn to move on from their past experiences as those experiences do not define them. Their bond enables them to find hope for a fresh start and anticipate a brighter future. They are part of life’s ongoing journey, akin to three stunning flowers with unique qualities that collectively embody the McGrath garden.
