Context by Dorothy Allison

In this personal essay, "Context" (2015), written by Dorothy Allison explores how knowing someone's past could change your thought of that person. Allison support this thesis by telling her past times to show how hard she had it in her childhood. Allison reminisces on the time where her mother would cook on two-burners instead of going out to eat in order to save money. The audience of this personal essay is anybody who is afraid to show where they came from to someone who is important to them.

After reading the short story, "Context", I can strongly relate to how she feels in regards to introducing the spouse to the parents. From her point of view, Allison was basically afraid of introducing her lover to her prejudice dad. It gives me insight on the fact that everybody grows up with a different past and Allison gives plenty of context towards understanding your roots and family. Furthermore, the story, more so, was really entertaining to me but also established a family acceptance for same-sex couples.

I understand Allison’s concern over bringing a lover home to meet your family. It is very nerve wrecking situation, it can go wrong, and it can make your relationship permit into a very serious situation. Especially if your background is different from your lover. Basically Allison explains, having a partner from a rich family and one lover from a poor family would make your partner think less of you and it could create a rift in your relationship. Allison states, "Seeing where she had grown up, meeting some of her family, I had understood her better, seen where some of her fear came from, some of her pride.", which also projects the idea that she accepts her lover for who she is, background,traits, and all. Allison ends her narrative by saying, "Context is so little to share, and so vital", and states a key element on really knowing your partner no matter who or where they come from.