In the poem, “Brenda Stewart” the speaker, Brenda, is dependent on her friend Jill. Their relationship is described as, “If [Brenda is] the high-flying kite,/Jill is [her] string”. This metaphor illustrates how Brenda is a dreamer and that Jill moderates her behaviour. If Jill isn’t there to keep Brenda grounded, Brenda gets carried away without thinking. In addition, after she shoplifted, Brenda “kept thinking [that she] wouldn’t be in this mess/If Jill had come shopping with [her]”. Ultimately it was Brenda’s choice to steal, which shows her immaturity because she does not take responsibility for her breaking the law. Due to her compulsive behavior, Jill helps her consider the consequences of her actions. Brenda needs to become independent
