Dysfunctional Family In The Virgin Suicides And The Virgin Suicides

Dysfunctional is defined as, “abnormal or unhealthy interpersonal behavior or interaction within a group” ("Dysfunction”). The effects of dysfunctional families can greatly impact the children in the family. How the children display the effects can vary. In The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides, the Lisbon sisters are forced to obey their strict Catholic parents, which eventually leads them to take their own lives. In The Perks of Being a Wallflower directed by Stephen Chbosky, Charlie believes he is the reason why his aunt died, which causes him to isolate himself from others so he won’t hurt anyone else. In both these works, the main characters isolate themselves as a result of their dysfunctional families, which can be seen through the

The girls have been taken out of school and are trapped inside their home. They have not been out at all, not even onto their porch like they used to. However, “the girls … ordered catalogues for items they could never buy, and the Lisbon’s’ mailbox filled up once again.” The catalogues were for, “furniture …, high-end clothing, exotic vacation. Unable to go anywhere, the girls traveled in their imaginations,” (Eugenides 163-164). This quote was said by the boys while observing the Lisbon family. The girls lack connection with the world outside their house, so they live their lives through the catalogues. The catalogues are of things that they would never be able to have. The catalogues symbolize the aspirations the Lisbon girls have and all the things they want to do, but they are isolated within their household unable to do what they want. The Lisbon parents are overprotective and make their decisions based on religious principles that forbid going out, makeup and dating. The motif of decay is also shown in the quote by the Lisbon family ordering furniture catalogues when their house is in desperate need of renovation. The girls isolated within their house makes their imaginations grow bigger because of how little they know about the world, thus explaining why the girls ordered catalogues of items they would never have. The symbol of catalogues represents

Through dialogue, the protagonists demonstrate isolation due to their odd family dynamics. The symbolism in The Virgin Suicides and The Perks of Being a Wallflower represents the isolation the protagonist experience as a result of their dysfunctional families. Although the parents of the protagonist were in their lives, the parents were emotionally absent forcing the characters into isolation, (Zupanick