I am currently reading a book called Because I am Furniture by Thalia Chaltas. The book is about a girl named Anke who is the youngest of three in a family where the father is abusive and violent. She is the only person in the house who is not beaten, raped or both. She sometimes envies her brother and sister’ s attention from their father because at least they are worth the trouble of a beating, while she is entirely invisible. This makes me wonder if it would be better if she was beat up by her father too, or if she should be grateful he leaves her alone. Is bad attention better then no attention?
On one hand she isn’t attacked physically the same way her brother and sister are. On the other hand she is still forced to live in a house where her family is attacked and she can’t do anything to stop it. Her father may not rape her, but she has to listen to him rape her sister almost every night knowing that she can’t do anything to stop him. When her father finds out that she is playing volleyball despite him saying she can’t, he yells at and beats her brother for it instead of her. She has to be a silent witness to terrible things while she is ignored entirely. Her father doesn’t physically hurt her but just makes her feel worthless. This is worse then getting beat up by him because at least that way her brother and sister know he is angry with them. With Anke he acts like he doesn’t care. You have to care to be angry.
Anke’s house is a terrible place to live. Her family members are the victims of abuse while her father charms everyone outside it. She is the only witness to her fathers abuse that isn’t being beaten to a pulp. She is the only one who can see it with enough distance to know how wrong it is, but still craves her father’s attention. And that is much worse then almost anything he could do to her body.
Miranda,
ReplyDeleteI read this book as well. A while ago so i have a vague memory of it. Anyway, i thought you had a very good response. I liked how you really the point across, about how it feels for Ankes feeling like a nobody. I think you should say a bit more about how you feel of how ankes is treated.
Tasmina
Miranda, You are really tackling a huge, complex issue. I love the way you approch the concept and then reel it in. i want to give you some crunstructive critism, but there isnt anything for me to say <3
ReplyDeletei really like the post. it asks the question of whether it is worse to be hated and to witness abuse or to be beaten. i am also impressed you noticed how she craves attention and how catastrophic her craving for attention could turn out.
ReplyDeleteI would really beg to differ. In my opinion being raped is much worse than being ignored...
ReplyDeleteI do agree that it is difficult to not being able to help someone in need, but your last statement
"And that is much worse then almost anything he could do to her body." is highly dubious.
i haven't read this book, but it sounds very interesting. i find it to be a very complex issue and i really like how well you summarized it and asked a thought provoking question. great job, keep it up!
ReplyDeleteHey Peter. I know what you mean but I disagree. She is more then just a witness. She is completely abused and neglected. At least her brother and sister know what is happening to them is wrong. Anke's dad is messing with her psychologically and I thing that is worse then physically because physical wounds can heal much more easily.
ReplyDeleteI really like how by taking the book, you were able to come up with a deep and controversial question that you were able to elaborate on! Your question not only reflected the characters emotions in your book, but was able to connect to life and the world.
ReplyDeleteMiranda: I have to agree with Peter. Physical wounds won't heal much more easily because any pysical wound, especially one from abuse, would leave a deeper emotioanl wound. Although it's true that she is a witness, and that must be awful, her siblings deal with more. Not only do they deal with digusting physucal abuse, they witness the other sibling get abused. And can you even imagine what it would be like if you got abused, but a sibling never did? If i were the siblings, i would be insanley jealous. Although it could be awful to be the witness, i am sure from the siblings point of view, neglection looks so much better.
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