The Walls Around Us Analysis
“To control the mind with force is like putting a viper in a basket.” -Maharaj Charan Singh. In The Walls Around Us, as in life, people do not respond well to being controlled by force- when they are given the chance to rebel or let out their angst, they tend to do it in much larger, more violent ways than if they could let it out in small, controllable bursts.
For example, the prisoners have been controlled in every sense to the point where they risk life and limb to “escape” when given the opportunity. “Maybe we should have been sensible about our sudden freedom, cautious. We weren’t.” (pg. 5) But who can blame them? They were controlled in every sense they could be- they weren’t allowed to wear their shoes inside their cells or be late to meals or shower when they wanted. They weren’t allowed to talk back or talk too much- laughing was often a problem. (pg. 189) Suicide was such an issue …show more content…
She was controlled by the kids who bullied her and the societal expectations of being a pretty teenage ballerina. “She wouldn’t be feeling any of this pressure to be perfect, like I am. She’d be relaxed, loose, even smiling.” (pg. 15) Violet is constantly comparing herself to Orianna- she doesn’t think she is as pretty or as good of a dancer as Ori was- she is controlled by her own insecurities. Harmony and Rachel abused that knowledge- calling her ugly, fat, a skeleton, a lesbo, a virgin, a slut. (pg. 238) all cruel and unfair things to call a girl who still isn’t sure of herself- their words began to control her mind. Then, when the boys sexualized her- talking about her ass and apparent lack of cleavage- she took that to heart- she internalized their words (pg. 241). Maybe that’s why she decided to do those things to Cody, maybe she was acting on a primal desire, maybe she just wanted them to like her. Regardless of why, she was coerced into giving him oral and the pictures the girls took of her controlled her later
For example, the prisoners have been controlled in every sense to the point where they risk life and limb to “escape” when given the opportunity. “Maybe we should have been sensible about our sudden freedom, cautious. We weren’t.” (pg. 5) But who can blame them? They were controlled in every sense they could be- they weren’t allowed to wear their shoes inside their cells or be late to meals or shower when they wanted. They weren’t allowed to talk back or talk too much- laughing was often a problem. (pg. 189) Suicide was such an issue …show more content…
She was controlled by the kids who bullied her and the societal expectations of being a pretty teenage ballerina. “She wouldn’t be feeling any of this pressure to be perfect, like I am. She’d be relaxed, loose, even smiling.” (pg. 15) Violet is constantly comparing herself to Orianna- she doesn’t think she is as pretty or as good of a dancer as Ori was- she is controlled by her own insecurities. Harmony and Rachel abused that knowledge- calling her ugly, fat, a skeleton, a lesbo, a virgin, a slut. (pg. 238) all cruel and unfair things to call a girl who still isn’t sure of herself- their words began to control her mind. Then, when the boys sexualized her- talking about her ass and apparent lack of cleavage- she took that to heart- she internalized their words (pg. 241). Maybe that’s why she decided to do those things to Cody, maybe she was acting on a primal desire, maybe she just wanted them to like her. Regardless of why, she was coerced into giving him oral and the pictures the girls took of her controlled her later