Dolores Claiborne

After assessing the damage Joe continually causes his family, Dolores decides to withdraw her children’s college fund—around $3,000—and use it to leave Joe and get herself and her children to safety. At the bank, though, Dolores learns that despite her presentation of the passbooks that should allow her to withdraw the funds, Joe has emptied out the accounts months before and set up a separate account in only his name. Enraged, Dolores realizes how little power she has as a wife and mother. On her way home, Dolores determines that she will “get that money out of him again” (171). Beset with worries about her children, Dolores bides her time. She observes Joe continuing to ogle Selena, Joe Junior’s hatred for his father growing, and Little Pete learning racist and violent behaviors from his dad.

All the while, Dolores continues working for Vera Donovan. Vera, who had previously lived on the island only during the summer months, begins to stay year-round after the death of her husband. Dolores also notices that Vera’s two children never visit their mother. Although Vera is often cantankerous, the older woman perks up when she learns of an upcoming total eclipse, set to take place in the summer of 1963.