Free College Essays - Self-discovery in Shes Come Undone by Wally Lamb :: Shes Come Undone

Shes Come Undone Self-discovery Throughout Shes Come Undone, Wally Lamb emphasizes the splendour of self-discovery to ones life. Dolores has several epiphanies throughout the course of the novel, including her realization that all of her failed relationships are non solely her fault. She learns she is worth loving and is capable of surviving on her own. With to each one discovery about herself, Dolores learns to love herself a little more and point herself a little less. Dolores first realization is a sub-conscious one. Right beforehand she tries to commit suicide she telephones her mothers childhood friend Geneva (Lamb 249). This is a vociferation for help and is her first step towards recovery. Dolores next discovery comes after a long period of therapy, paid for by Geneva. Dolores therapist, Dr. Shaw, attempts to rewrite her childhood from the epoch she was in the womb on. He takes on the role of her mother (268). As her negative childhood memories are replaced by positiv e ones, Dolores gains a freshly sense of self-esteem and confidence. She loses all of her extra weight (269). Dolores funnels her energy into productive pursuits like Etch-A-Sketching rather than self-destructive behavior. Eventually she is able to leave Dr. Shaws armorial bearing and go into the real world to provide for herself (283). Perhaps Dolores leaves the care of Dr. Shaw to a fault soon. Shortly after getting her own apartment she begins dating Dante. shamed of her past, she creates a fictional life story for herself. She lives a lie the unanimous time she is living with Dante. She writes to her grandmother and falsely describes her marriage. When she catches Dante sleeping with one of his students, she eventually wakes up. She realizes that no man is worth the pain of losing her identity, and she also realizes that her identity cannot be defined by the man she is with. After her grandmothers death she finally reveals her unbent self to Dante. In frustration and ang er she tells him all of the events of her past, from her weight problems to her bungle to her time spent in a mental institution. She feels completely reposition for the first time. Dolores final stage of self-discovery comes with her relationship with Thayer. She realizes that he is what she has truly wanted for her entire life. It is the first time she has found luck and happiness in love.