Abuse Essay, Research Paper

Many people may never experience what it is like to be abused, or to feelhatred for a parent, but in Bastard Out Of Carolina, the reader gets to relivewhat it is like to be abused through the eyes of a child. This engrossing andwonderfully written story will open your eyes to the reality of child abuse.The story is told through the eyes of Ruth Anne Boatwright, a child broughtinto the world with an unknown father and a mother who struggled to bringher up properly in a situation bound for despair. This harrowing account willleave you speechless and flabbergasted. Bastard Out Of Carolina is boundto make an everlasting impression in the mind of its readers.

Ruth Anne was born into a family of Boatwrights, known throughout thesouth for their rough-edged ways. She was born when the south was noplace for young mothers and their illegitimate children, yet her mother, Anneywas determined to bring “Bone” up in a caring and loving environment.Anney did not want to see her little girl grow up to be a Boatwright woman.She wanted to see her daughter make something of her life, something almostimpossible in South Carolina. Anney’s immense love for Bone was visible inalmost every aspect of life. Everything that she did revolved around Boneand how it would make her feel. When Mama married Lyle Parsons, a gentleand loving truck driver, both Mama and Bone thought they had been blessedby god. Lyle’s kind and humorous demeanor made him appear almost as anangel in the eyes of Anney and Bone. Things didn’t last for long, though.When Lyle was killed in a car accident, Bone was sure things would never bethe same, and she was right.

Soon, Mama gave birth to Lyle’s daughter, Reese. Reese’s locks of curlyblond hair and her small smile reminded Mama of Lyle everytime she lookedat her. Mama swore she would never marry again because she could love noman the way she loved Lyle. But soon, Glen Waddell started courtingMama. At first, gentle and loving, Anney thought that he would make a goodfather for her two children. Little did she know that Glen was hiding darksecrets that would soon tear the family up forever.

After the honeymoon, Mama and “Daddy Glen” bought a house inGreenville, South Carolina, far from the home that they lived in before, farfrom the aunts and the uncles that meant so much to Bone and Reese. In thebeginning, Daddy Glen demonstrated no signs of hate or abuse. He broughtthe kids presents, he took Bone places. He wanted to love and be loved.But from the beginning, Bone saw something suspicious in Daddy Glens icyblue eyes. She saw hatred and contempt. Bone could read Daddy Glen, andshe was scared of what might happen. Slowly, Glen’s behavior startedchanging. He would yell at the smallest things, often blaming Bone foreverything. Bone saw Glen looking at her, in strange and seductive manners,and when the abuse finally began, Bone knew that she had to be strong, ifonly for her Mama’s sake.

The abuse continued for months, and soon, Bone began to believe that shewas to blame for everything. It wasn’t Daddy Glen who was acting wrong, itwas she, and she was wrong. Mama often passed off Bone’s abuse as herfault also, warning Bone to be good in front of Daddy Glen. The abusehowever, was caused by Glen’s immense jealousy for Bone. He saw howMama caressed her and cared for her. He saw how Mama would doanything for her, how she would hold her and never let her go. Glen’sjealousy turned to angry rage. He thought that if he could get past Bone,Mama would be his, and all his. The abuse continued until one day AuntAlma noticed immense scarring on the back of Bone’s legs. She immediatelyconfronted Anney and showed her the scars. Astounded and shocked,Anney moved out. She scolded Glen for abusing her baby. She didn’tbelieve that he could actually be that overpowering and dominating.Although they were far from Daddy Glen, Bone could tell that Mama stillloved him, even though he had mentally and physically abused her little girl.Bone knew that it was inevitable, Mama would go back to Daddy Glen, butBone wouldn’t go with her.

The two remained separated for months. But one day, Daddy Glen came tothe apartment. The abuse that occurred in the next few minutes, wassomething Daddy Glen had never done before. Daddy Glen raped Bone,broke her arm, and left her bruised and bleeding. When Mama walked in onthe scene, she scooped Bone up in her arms and left for the hospital, butDaddy Glen would soon convince Anney that he was truly sorry, and Anneywould take Glen back. But, Bone did as she vowed to do. Bone stayed withher Aunt Alma, and Mama left with Daddy Glen at her side. Bone knew shewould never seen her beloved mother again.