Discovery is a central process in the growth and development of groups or individuals, in that it leads to new ideas and views of the world, others, and ourselves. Discoveries can occur ……. Denial inhibits possible discoveries, though when provoked, leads to a deeper sense of discovery and results in significantly more meaningful discoveries. This idea of denial is demonstrated in the play ‘Away’ written by Michael Gow (1986), and the short story ‘The Flowers’ by Alice Walker. A number of characters in ‘Away’, including Gwen and Coral, make significant discoveries through overcoming various forms of denial, that have a great impact on their perception of themselves and their worlds. The same can also be said of the character Myop in ‘The Flowers’.
