There is a common phrase one uses in response to a climatic situation in a family setting that goes something similar to, ‘You drive me to drink’. In the novel, Cheryl literal puts this common phrase to effect. Pain caused by her biological parents, the family visits and her relationship with her sister are all substantial reasons that led to the alcohol abuse which foreshadowed her suicide. To start with, Cheryl was mentally abused when she stayed at home with her biological parents. Never did they say, ‘I love you’, or ask about how she feels. She felt neglected due to the isolation of her and April, her sister due to her parents constantly drinking and focusing on themselves. This foreshadows that the way one is raised is the way that
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Moreover, the visits Cheryl was promised with her family led to emotional pain because when her mother stopped coming to the visits, Cheryl pondered if she made her mother feel bad about being happy living a great life without them. Cheryl thought that she and April were the reason why the mother was so ashamed she didn’t bother to come. As mentioned in one of Cheryl’s letters, “No, your Mama did not want you, girls, to see the way she was. She was too ashamed.” (Mosionier 226) For a young child to live with this massive weight on her shoulders clearly affected her emotions. Furthermore, another factor of emotional pain Cheryl’s family caused her is due to her sister, April. When April moved to Toronto to marry Bob, in attempt to change her native identity, Cheryl was fresh out of university with no guidance to look up to. Due to this, Cheryl began drinking and was found on the streets which led to the scene of her being in the hospital. As drawn from this, Aprils neglect of Cheryl has led Cheryl to alcohol abuse which mentally tortured her. April wanted to change her identity because she thought being native was bad, which questioned Cheryl’s strong beliefs of being native. Cheryl was unable to cope with the confusion so she depended on alcohol to distract her from
Moreover, the visits Cheryl was promised with her family led to emotional pain because when her mother stopped coming to the visits, Cheryl pondered if she made her mother feel bad about being happy living a great life without them. Cheryl thought that she and April were the reason why the mother was so ashamed she didn’t bother to come. As mentioned in one of Cheryl’s letters, “No, your Mama did not want you, girls, to see the way she was. She was too ashamed.” (Mosionier 226) For a young child to live with this massive weight on her shoulders clearly affected her emotions. Furthermore, another factor of emotional pain Cheryl’s family caused her is due to her sister, April. When April moved to Toronto to marry Bob, in attempt to change her native identity, Cheryl was fresh out of university with no guidance to look up to. Due to this, Cheryl began drinking and was found on the streets which led to the scene of her being in the hospital. As drawn from this, Aprils neglect of Cheryl has led Cheryl to alcohol abuse which mentally tortured her. April wanted to change her identity because she thought being native was bad, which questioned Cheryl’s strong beliefs of being native. Cheryl was unable to cope with the confusion so she depended on alcohol to distract her from