Monday, May 16, 2011

Character Meanings

Susanna: Susanna gives the reader a first person perspective of being committed into a mental hospital. She gives us the main reasons of why she is in there, or what drove her there. At one point, Susanna admits that she doesn't like admitting that she was in a mental hospital for two years, she says it stirs up judgement and fear. Susanna helps the reader empathize with those who have psychological disorders; Susanna seems normal, there is just something a little off and that little something got her committed into McLean.
Lisa: Lisa provides the reader with someone to compare all the other patients to. Lisa is much more violent, energetic, and overall more crazy than all of the other patients, especially Susanna. Knowing this, the reader can truly understand how not-crazy Susanna was and how confused she was when she was committed.
Lisa Cody: Lisa Cody has the same mental disorder as Lisa. She provides a comparison for the reader to understand how crazy the real Lisa is.
Polly: Polly gives the reader an example of how mental illness can physically damage your body and your innocence. Polly was a beautiful, thriving, young girl until one day she poured gasoline all over her body and lit herself on fire. Polly lives in a delusion of a child's playful life while in reality she is an adult. One day in the hospital Polly has a breakdown and screams about her face and her scars.
Georgina: Georgina, along with Susanna, is one of the more normal women on the ward. However, Georgina gives the reader a deeper understanding of companionship within the ward. One would think that Susanna and Georgina would become great friends, nevertheless, it is Susanna (the most normal) and Lisa (the most crazy) who become inseparable.

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