Vault Of Dreamers

Coming of age is a difficult stage of life that everyone experiences at one time or another, a large part of this is finding a new sense of self-identity. People define themselves by their relationships, their morals and beliefs, and mental state. The Vault of Dreamers by Caragh M. O'Brien is about a teen girl named Rosie being accepted into her dream arts school. This school is also a reality show that broadcasts and ranks students based on popularity. During the night the students are obligated to take sleeping pills but one night Rosie stays up and discovers that she and her fellow students are at danger while asleep. The Vault of Dreamers by Caragh M. O'Brien proves that one develops a new personal identity when there are at their weakest

For instance, her stepfather, teachers, doctors and the dean of her school. One night Rosie does not take her sleeping pill and while reflecting upon her actions thinks, “I had other reasons to disobey”(1). She defines herself here as a delinquent character which is a total contrast to the good girl image that is painted of her in flashbacks.This differing view of what Rosie thinks she should do and what those who are in charge of her thinks she should do puts Rosie into a position of weakness. The power struggle that Rosie is engaged in forces her to assess what issues she deems important enough to fight for and which she can dismiss. What one is willing to go the distance because they deem it worth fighting for is a large part of one's identity. She believes that forcing students to sleep against their will is unjust and she should fight it, which is something that gives her a sense of identity, the girl who stays up when told not to. Situations similar to this is something that Rosie struggles with often. While being confronted by the main antagonist of the novel, the dean of students, Rosie thinks, “He’d kept talking too long, but I was sure I could outrun him” (396). In this situation, Rosie is trapped by the dean and is weakly helpless to do anything. Her being put in this scenario forces Rosie to make huge choices that ultimately have grave repercussions upon her being

This is proven by Rosie's ever evolving relationships and the effects upon her. Rosie constantly butting heads with authority figures and how that changes her. As well her mental health becoming worse as time progresses in the novel and this deteriorations impacts. Truly what comes out of a time of pain and adversity is the most