Linda Condon

"Linda Condon" by Joseph Hergesheimer is a story about a thoughtful young girl named Linda Condon, whose serious personality is very different from her outgoing mother, Mrs. Condon. The book hints at life inside a fancy hotel, where what people look like and how they act around others is super important. The story starts by showing Linda, a young girl known for her captivating blue eyes and serious way about her, and she helps her mother with different social activities, showing she feels responsible even though she's very young. The interactions early in the story hint at a struggle between Linda's deep thoughts and her mother's casual way of dealing with relationships and social events. These differences between the mother and daughter set the stage for a report on what identity is and what society expects, especially as Linda tries to understand the complicated world around her and why she looks up to her mother, even though she often seems shallow.