Secrecy
In many instances, secrets bring Charlie closer to the people in his life. At first, Charlie is the one who is asked to keep the secrets. He holds small secrets, such as his father's crying incident during the final episode of M*A*S*H, and he holds immense secrets, such as Patrick's relationship with Brad. Secrets form the framework of his life, and in many cases provide an unexpected stability. When Charlie reveals some of the secrets, like when he tells Bill that his sister's boyfriend hit her, his life crumbles slightly. After arriving home from that conversation with Bill, Charlie can instantly tell that Bill has called home, and Charlie's sister tells him that she hates him. Charlie is shocked, and he can only muster the words "I love you" in response. Not until the end of the novel do we realize that Charlie is holding onto his own secret: namely, his Aunt Helen had molested him when he was a child. As this secret is revealed, Charlie's life falls apart much more dramatically than before. He is even hospitalized and treated by a psychiatrist. Just as secrets form a structure for Charlie's life, they also tear it down and act destructively. (Grade Saver) |