The Shawl 3

Rosa's reaction outside the hotel was extremely intense.  In class we kind of agreed that she was probably a little crazy or insane when she bugged out at the manager, but I believe it was a little more than that.  I really believe that Rosa felt her independence and freedom were being put in jeopardy by the fence blocking the beach.  It brought back some not so fond memories of the camps.  Her rant about Dr. Tree was very random and I do think she had a few screws loose in her head.  The barbed wire signifies to Rosa being trapped or even kind of captured, and obviously she was traumatized by the Nazi's in the concentration camp she was detained in and she doesn't enjoy the feeling of being trapped or not allowed to go somewhere.  Although Rosa lives a life where she kind of puts herself back into her past by depriving herself of luxuries and things she doesn't feel she deserves, it is all her choice. And I think she freaked out at the manager of the hotel because he was denying her of a freedom or a liberty and she didn't like that feeling. Since Rosa's rant about Dr. Tree was so random and brought on by nothing it did appear out of place and strange.  I don't think the manager knew what was going on I think he was ambushed a bit by a semi-crazy woman.  Rosa lives her life in the past so she thinks that the world is out to get her, which is also partially part of the reason she has such a strong reaction to the hotel manager. I think she is just an extremely confused woman trying to get through the misfortunes she has gone through in life.