Self-Image

An individual's self-image can be skewed by childhood events, a lack of self-confidence, and emotional issues. In this novel, Mariana is a therapist who is able to recognize self-image problems in others. However, she is not always able to see her own.

Mariana knows that one's self-image begins during childhood. As a very young child, Mariana saw herself through her father's eyes. He seldom looked directly at her, and he had a look of disdain when he did. She compensated by spending a lot of time alone, reading the books her mother loved. When Mariana went to Cambridge, she imagined she finding her true love but she was unable to change her actions and attitudes, meaning she spent her time in the library and made few friends. She could not recognize that the real problem was her lack of socialization that would set the stage for...