Teenage Wasteland

The story that had the most impact on me this week in class was "Teenage Wasteland." The relationship between Donny, Daisy, and Cal is upsetting and rather complex. Each individual brings his or her own personal issues into the mix and plays out his or her feelings concerning these issues through character interactions with the other two.

Daisy grapples with her own inferiority complex and fear of failure, as is evidenced almost instantly in the way that she clutches her purse, sitting in the Principal's office like a apprehensive child, fearing punishment, rather than a concerned parent. This state of mind is farther demonstrated in Daisy's second school meeting, in which her train of thought lingers on her clothes and personal appearance rather than her child's continued misbehavior. She goes as far as to conscientiously suck in her stomach when she stands up to leave, in an attempt to throw off the assumed judgements of the Principal, but more importantly to throw off her feelings of inferiority. These beliefs show through in her parenting skills, or lack thereof. Despite the fact that she has some good instincts, Daisy fails to follow through on them. In her attempts to "save" her son, she alienates her daughter, hence, continuing the vicious cycle. She naively follows Cal's instructions concerning her son Donny, even cutting of virtually all normal communication with him; therefore, dooming the relationship. Communication is key to any relationship, and when Daisy failed to continue to at least make attempts to connect with her son, she sealed his fate.

Donny and Cal's problems are not as clean-cut as Daisy's. Donny could be rebelling because of his lacking in a father figure or lack of attention on his mother's part, but probably a little of both. Cal's character dances around his issues. It is always hinted at, but never outright said that Cal is dealing with his past on the side, and, I think, through these kids--all of whom he is supposed to be helping. I think the biggest red flag, aside from his incredibly immature and dangerous parenting instructions to Daisy, was when Donny told his mother that Cal was divorced because his wife was controlling and didn't understand him. Especially considering this particular situation, this should have been a big flashing red light to Daisy. After all, this is being said by a boy who thinks that his mother, who does absolutely no parenting, is too controlling. Hence, we come to the topic of trust. Both Donny and Cal think that Donny needs to be "given more rope" by his parents. Here's the deal: Donny has not proved himself capable of handling the responsibilities he already has nor has he proven himself trustworthy. If anything the rope should be shortened rather than lengthened. Donny is a difficult kid to discipline in the first place, but up until now he was just a whining kid shouting, "Don't you trust me?" however, Cal legitimized that stance. As soon as Cal entered the picture there was no hope of any type of discipline.

This story is upsetting and frustrating on two accounts: one, Daisy will not act out her parenting role. She needed to take control and actually make a decision. Two, this lethargy in enhanced by the awareness of the regressing plot. Rather than making progress, Donny is slowly slipping away from his family until he literally disappears into the darkness. The lack of affection, the lack of connection or communication, and even at times the cold indifference of these characters in relation to each other, is what ultimately makes this story tragic.

Word Count: 602