Mental Illness Presentation
Transcript: Girl in Pieces by Kathleen Glasgow Maddie Lesher About the Book About the Book Charlotte (Charlie) Davis is seventeen years old and has a negative relationship with her mother, which is prone to violent outbursts. As a cutter, she looks for comfort out on the streets, risky relationships, and the shards of glass she uses to cut. After an almost raping in a car tunnel, she is taken to hospital for her injuries and, further, put into rehab. Out of rehab, an old friend helps whisk her away from her mother, the drugs, and bad way of living to Tuscon, Arizona. There, she begins to better her life, but other, and equally as dangerous, problems emerge than cutting. Notable Characters Charlotte (Charlie) Davis: Main character, seventeen, a cutter, and she likes to draw Mike: Charlie's friend who gets her to Tuscon, Arizona. Riley: Charlie begins a romantic relationship with him, he is older, a drug addict, alcoholic, and has his own demons to come to terms with. Blue: Charlie's rehab friend and eventual roomate in Tuscon. Ellis: Charlie's best friend who is in a coma from cutting, which Charlie blames herself for since she never condemned Ellis' cutting. Louisa: In rehab, Charile's roomate and best friend. She sets herself on fire to end her life. And succeeds. Notable Characters Charlie's mother doesn't support her, allowing her to move to Tuscon, Arizona for a new start at life. Louisa commits suicide, upon hearing the news Charlie begins to unravel. Charlie enters a toxic relationship with Riley. Their eventual, and messy, breakup cause Charlie to cut again. Charlie cuts worse and the aftermath of her breakup and cuts makes her realize what she's doing is wrong, her decisions thus far have been wrong. She realizes that she really does want to get better. Important Plot Elements Important Plot Elements Effective Depictions Effective Depictons She portrays the long, hard process of getting better. Doesn't rush the process and shows the difficult choices (like giving in to the old cutting habits, taking drugs, etc.). Shows different methods of getting better; rehab, therapy, medication, and even a change of scenery Constantly says that the scars are a part of the person, it's a part of their life, their past, but not necessarily their future Other characters support Charlie instead of shunning her Despite all the hardships, father's suicide, friend's attempts, absusive mom, there is hope at the end and getting better is possible. Blue said, "'This is it. This is me...It's better to get it up front. And you know what makes me super mad? If a guy has scars, it's like some heroic shit show or something. But women? We're just creepy freaks" (Glasgow 321). Blue is saying to own her imperfections and scars. She hurt herself and there's no changing that. The scars will always be a part of who she is and what she becomes, but isn't the defining factor of who she is. Group Therapy rule, "Group is voluntary. If a member doesn't want to speak, she doesn't have to" (Glasgow 37). Therapy is optional, not forced Therapy isn't the only option. There is one-on-one therapy, group therapy, and medication in the rehab center. Examples Examples Ineffective Depictions Ineffective Depictions The mother doesn't give support to Charlie. In reality, I think the parents would actually help their child, not turn them away, however, the mother being like this might be a necessary event to develop the book. In one instant Charlie's boss criticizes her for wearing a short sleave t-shirt, showing her scars. Examples Examples Charlie's mom's last words before Charlie got onto a bus for Arizona, "This is as far as I go, Charlotte....I don't ever want to see you here again" (Glasgow 98 and 101). Her mother doesn't want anything to do with Charile and she can barely pay for rehab because she does drugs and drinks. Teens might think that their parents won't want to deal with them. Jules said, "Jesus, you can't be out here like that" (Glasgow 258). Making Charlie feel that she has to hide her scars instead of accepting them.