2-3-4 Challenge Book Discussions #2 discussion

Carrie has nightmares of waking up at night with her sister Jill standing over her with scissors, threatening to gouge her eyes out the way she did Carrie’s favorite doll. Their mother caters to Jill, refusing to acknowledge signs of a serious psychotic disorder. How much difference do you think could have been made had Lola sought help for Jill in those early years? Is this a case of nature vs. nurture?

I haven't quite finished this book yet but I can't help but respond now. This is such a great question. Some have thought that a psychosis can be the result of a physical problem in the brain, a tumor perhaps. Could it be that Jilly has something really wrong in her brain physically? I think there is some danger in assuming that all psychotics have a physical disability, we certainly wouldn't want to lump it into the same category as other physical disabilities. But there might be something to it. In the end, I think that psychosis has both a physical and a "nurture" component. In the case of Jilly I can't believe that seeking help in the early years would have helped. She is crazy on a level that I have only ever seen in fiction!

Jilly was a case of nature over nurture. She was born with something missing. Maybe she did have a brain tumor. She sure was defective emotionally. I don't think the way she was raised had anything to do with her evil. If Lola had sought help or treatment, July would have played the psychologist and continued on with her terror tactics.

I agree. Jilly has something wrong with her that makes her do these terribly hurtful things. I think her mother added to the problem by not acknowledging that she is evil, but I don't think there is anything they could do except get her in a mental facility sooner. It is obvious that she can manipulate men. I'm sure one of the doctors would release her.

I agree with you all. My only other thought was that maybe...if her mother had sought treatment for her earlier, she would have done less damage to her immediate family like Carrie. It would have saved Carrie a lot of grief, nightmares, etc., had Jill been institutionalized early in life. I don't think it would have changed what Jill was - a psychopath. I was disgusted with the men in this story who so easily fell under her spell.