It is very hard for them to process the situation, especially when there is a person or relationship of trust involved. For instance, in the short story “How to tell Renata”, protagonist Jacinda looked at Jerry the antagonist as a father figure in the beginning of their relationship. That relationship changed for Jacinda when Jerry sexually abused her. After she was assaulted she could not understand what had happened to her or even why it had happened. This quote shows that Jacinda tried to ignore the situation by thinking, “... Maybe what seems to be happening is all a chimera, just the old imagination working overtime”(Holeman 120). It took Jacinda a while to realize that she had been sexually abused and even longer to make the decision to tell her mother Renata. Jacinda struggled even more when she decided to tell her mother because she was extremely shamed. This struggle can be clearly seen when Jacinda thinks to herself, “No matter how I rehearse what I will say to Renata, It sounds wrong in my head”(Holeman 121). She also felt that admitting this would cause a hatred to be born between her and Renata because her mother might think that she is lying. “ If she doesn’t believe me, she’ll hate me, thinking I’m lying about the guy she loves”(Holeman 121). It becomes clear that abusive relationships can take long periods of time to be understood because of the multiple feelings being forced upon them such as puzzlement, weakness and
It is very hard for them to process the situation, especially when there is a person or relationship of trust involved. For instance, in the short story “How to tell Renata”, protagonist Jacinda looked at Jerry the antagonist as a father figure in the beginning of their relationship. That relationship changed for Jacinda when Jerry sexually abused her. After she was assaulted she could not understand what had happened to her or even why it had happened. This quote shows that Jacinda tried to ignore the situation by thinking, “... Maybe what seems to be happening is all a chimera, just the old imagination working overtime”(Holeman 120). It took Jacinda a while to realize that she had been sexually abused and even longer to make the decision to tell her mother Renata. Jacinda struggled even more when she decided to tell her mother because she was extremely shamed. This struggle can be clearly seen when Jacinda thinks to herself, “No matter how I rehearse what I will say to Renata, It sounds wrong in my head”(Holeman 121). She also felt that admitting this would cause a hatred to be born between her and Renata because her mother might think that she is lying. “ If she doesn’t believe me, she’ll hate me, thinking I’m lying about the guy she loves”(Holeman 121). It becomes clear that abusive relationships can take long periods of time to be understood because of the multiple feelings being forced upon them such as puzzlement, weakness and