Although not always apparent to the naked eye, abandonment is happening continuously. Whether that be physically or emotionally. In "Leaving Gilead", Pat Carr, the author, shows the hardships and devastation that can happen to a child who is emotionally abandoned by their parent. Saranell, an eight year girl, is a prime example of this. Her mother, Geneva, is in a loveless marriage with a loveless relationship with her daughter. As an eight year girl, Saranell will have to live with the thoughtlessness of her mothers actions for the rest of her life. For many it's better to lose a parent through death, than through emotional abandonment. As the war is beginning to thicken and move closer and closer to home, they are forced to move to a safer
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An article written by Martha Erickson and Byron Egeland states that you may not see the hurt of a emotionally abandoned child, however, it is still evident in their life. "Although the bruises and scars of physical abuse are more readily apparent, the quiet assault of child neglect often does at least as much damage to its young victims" (Erickson and Egeland). This statement defines Saranell's life with accuracy; she is not physically abused, but her mental state is being changed everyday due to the neglect she feels from her mother. Geneva is unable to care and mentor Saranell because she is in a loveless marriage with a child that she cannot love to the fullest. Multiple times within Geneva's final days, she states this while admitting her love for another man in front of her daughter. Saranell has no choice but to push back the damaging words and care for her mother as she clings on to what life she has left. In Geneva's final words came the worst hurt. "'Such a ridiculous - waste of years.'...'For us all'" (Carr 139). It is here that Saranell is now aware that her mother believes that her life and their experiences were a waste of time. As Saranell watches her mother die, in front of her, she is hit with the reality that she is now free of the sharp words and commands and loneliness she once had to reside
An article written by Martha Erickson and Byron Egeland states that you may not see the hurt of a emotionally abandoned child, however, it is still evident in their life. "Although the bruises and scars of physical abuse are more readily apparent, the quiet assault of child neglect often does at least as much damage to its young victims" (Erickson and Egeland). This statement defines Saranell's life with accuracy; she is not physically abused, but her mental state is being changed everyday due to the neglect she feels from her mother. Geneva is unable to care and mentor Saranell because she is in a loveless marriage with a child that she cannot love to the fullest. Multiple times within Geneva's final days, she states this while admitting her love for another man in front of her daughter. Saranell has no choice but to push back the damaging words and care for her mother as she clings on to what life she has left. In Geneva's final words came the worst hurt. "'Such a ridiculous - waste of years.'...'For us all'" (Carr 139). It is here that Saranell is now aware that her mother believes that her life and their experiences were a waste of time. As Saranell watches her mother die, in front of her, she is hit with the reality that she is now free of the sharp words and commands and loneliness she once had to reside