Tweaked By Katherine Holubitsky: Thematic Analysis
The aftermath of a destructive obsession
What happens when the burdens of addiction confront a household; what dilemmas arise inside of a family? The novel Tweaked by Katherine Holubitsky; explores the life of an ordinary teenager, Gordie; and his internal struggles with his Brother Chase’s tyrannical addiction to crystal meth. Furthermore, Chase’s self-harm tragically cripples his family, which composes of Gordie, his mother, and father. Although it impacts their personal lives it also damages the relationships that they have with others outside of the family.
The ramification that Chase brought to the family is one that fragments it; more specifically his mother: “Mom acts like we’re traitors. She’d had it all under control, she tells Aunt …show more content…
Chase has managed to get them both hooked” (Holubitsky 169). This quote manages to display that as consequence of Chase’s actions his father is vulnerable to any influence that Chase has. It also demonstrates that it effects Gordie as well; this is synonymous with the fact that because his father is not spending time with him. Gordie would feel more secluded and so causing him to be hurt as well.
Additionally, Chase’s continual support ruins his father’s reputation as a good dad: “Dad arranged for Chase to stock shelves in a small grocery store. Mr. Pelltiere, a longtime friend of Dad's… Chase blew it within two weeks” (Holubitsky 56). This quote represents the burden that is Chase; this has consequences on his father’s reputation and his father’s relationships with others. As it is crucial to his father as he is a teacher and if he has a poor reputation he will be open to insult. In addition to disfiguring his parent’s life, Chase left Gordie’s relationship status in complete vulnerability: “I am paranoid that if I ask her or if I have her over to my house, he’ll show up, all spaced out, demanding money scaring her off” (Holubitsky 29). This quote demonstrates the complete authority that Chase has in his life; for Gordie …show more content…
Is evident that Chase not only damages him personally but relationally.
Gordie’s morals was one of the center points of his character; although Gordie kept them throughout the novel he has an internal difficulty with preserving them: “Chase has stretched and twisted those values until they are a tangled mess, and I am hanging on to mine by the thinnest wire” (Holubitsky 7). This is influential to Gordie because it is his morals that keeps his family together; and if he bypasses those morals his family would become emotionally and financial distort.
Chase’s self-harm tragically cripples his family, which composes of Gordie, his mother, and father. Although it impacts their personal lives it also damages the relationships that they have with others outside of the family.Chase’s burdens left his mother in emotional distress through killing another man; but he also causes his mother a feeling of deception from her son that causes her to leave the
What happens when the burdens of addiction confront a household; what dilemmas arise inside of a family? The novel Tweaked by Katherine Holubitsky; explores the life of an ordinary teenager, Gordie; and his internal struggles with his Brother Chase’s tyrannical addiction to crystal meth. Furthermore, Chase’s self-harm tragically cripples his family, which composes of Gordie, his mother, and father. Although it impacts their personal lives it also damages the relationships that they have with others outside of the family.
The ramification that Chase brought to the family is one that fragments it; more specifically his mother: “Mom acts like we’re traitors. She’d had it all under control, she tells Aunt …show more content…
Chase has managed to get them both hooked” (Holubitsky 169). This quote manages to display that as consequence of Chase’s actions his father is vulnerable to any influence that Chase has. It also demonstrates that it effects Gordie as well; this is synonymous with the fact that because his father is not spending time with him. Gordie would feel more secluded and so causing him to be hurt as well.
Additionally, Chase’s continual support ruins his father’s reputation as a good dad: “Dad arranged for Chase to stock shelves in a small grocery store. Mr. Pelltiere, a longtime friend of Dad's… Chase blew it within two weeks” (Holubitsky 56). This quote represents the burden that is Chase; this has consequences on his father’s reputation and his father’s relationships with others. As it is crucial to his father as he is a teacher and if he has a poor reputation he will be open to insult. In addition to disfiguring his parent’s life, Chase left Gordie’s relationship status in complete vulnerability: “I am paranoid that if I ask her or if I have her over to my house, he’ll show up, all spaced out, demanding money scaring her off” (Holubitsky 29). This quote demonstrates the complete authority that Chase has in his life; for Gordie …show more content…
Is evident that Chase not only damages him personally but relationally.
Gordie’s morals was one of the center points of his character; although Gordie kept them throughout the novel he has an internal difficulty with preserving them: “Chase has stretched and twisted those values until they are a tangled mess, and I am hanging on to mine by the thinnest wire” (Holubitsky 7). This is influential to Gordie because it is his morals that keeps his family together; and if he bypasses those morals his family would become emotionally and financial distort.
Chase’s self-harm tragically cripples his family, which composes of Gordie, his mother, and father. Although it impacts their personal lives it also damages the relationships that they have with others outside of the family.Chase’s burdens left his mother in emotional distress through killing another man; but he also causes his mother a feeling of deception from her son that causes her to leave the