Repression

Donovan explores the consequences of emotional repression through Davy, who struggles with processing experiences to the extent that he is unaware of his own desires and feelings. For example, in the middle of the novel he has a dream about walking on a beach that shows his desire to explore unfamiliar territory but also his fear of doing so; rather than consider the significance of the dream, he tells the reader, “The next part isn’t part of the story, so it is all right to skip over it” (1297). He proceeds to analyze the dream’s meaning later on, but rather than consider the complexity of his emotions, he latches onto the fear he felt at the prospect of moving forward and resolves to cling to his past, thinking, “I cannot get buried in all this stuff happening to me now” (1327). Donovan also shows the consequences...