The Minds of Billy Milligan | Themes

The Minds of Billy Milligan Themes

The Will to Survive

It's the will to survive that creates the multiple personalities in Billy's life. For example, David is "the keeper of the pain" and it's David who always takes the spot when there is punishment or pain to be endured. In this way, Billy is able to move past that point and to continue to survive whereas it's possible he would have given up his life had he been forced to endure the punishment at the hands of his parents and others.

That will to survive is also seen when Ragen and Arthur put Billy "to sleep." Billy, who has grown tired of losing the great chunks of time and has come to hate see his situation as intolerable tries to commit suicide by throwing himself off a rooftop. When this happens, Ragen takes control and throws "Billy" to the ground to stop the action. Ragen and Arthur then discuss...
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