The Flowers in My Life by Paige

The Flowers in My Life by Paige - April 2014 Scholarship Essay

Cathy Dollanganger from V.C. Andrew’s Flower in the Attic series has influenced me both positively and negatively in that her intentions to care for her family are respectable, yet she often lets her selfishness dictate her actions. In Flowers in the Attic, Cathy tries to make the best out of her situation as her and her three siblings are locked in their grandmother’s attic for years. She takes on the duties left in the wake of her mother’s absence and attempts to create a positive environment in the tiny cramped attic by making paper flowers to hang on the wall and tying ropes to the rafters to fashion swings.

In that regard, Cathy inspires me every day to put my situation in life in perspective and remember that there are those around the world who suffer on a daily basis and yearn for the food, shelter, clothing, and loving family that I take for granted every day. In Cathy I also admire her imagination and willingness never to give up. Throughout the book series, continual tragedies in Cathy’s life such as the death of her first husband, brother, and mother invigorate her and make her more determined to succeed. Reading about these hardships gives me a great sense of comfort in that I know that I am not alone when something tragic does happen in my life.

Another respectable quality of Cathy is her steadfast devotion to her family. Throughout her life, Cathy makes great sacrifices for her family in order for them to achieve their dreams and be happy. Cathy supports them wholeheartedly in their endeavors and puts them before herself on multiple occasions. This love moved me not only when reading the book but also in my daily encounters with others. As a result of reading this book series, I try and extend humility and kindness to all I come into contact with.

Though Cathy’s intentions throughout the series are honorable, her means of achieving them are sometimes selfish and filled with blame, through which I have learned about the destructive effects of self-centeredness. After being locked in an attic by her mother as a child, Cathy’s adult life is balanced between raising a family and getting revenge on her mother. Her love for her children is underscored by her deep-seeded hate of her mother. Every action she does to help her children is fueled by her desire to prove to her mother how successful Cathy and her children became even though they’ve had to overcome so much adversity.

Through Cathy’s experiences and view of her mother, I have learned the value of forgiving and letting go. For Cathy’s entire life, she carries around the painful memories of her childhood and naive plans of revenge. These dark thoughts cut into her soul and make her a twisted version of the perfect woman she always wanted to be when a child. Had Cathy forgiven her mother, she could have lived her life in peace with her mother. She wouldn’t have been tied down to her past and instead would be allowed to venture out and create a new legacy for herself. I have learned then that apology and forgiveness are vital to living a peaceful existence, and I have made it my goal to graduate high school while on good terms with the rest of my classmates as well as apologize and right any wrongs I may have made.

Lastly, Cathy’s character in the Flowers in the Attic series has shown me the depth and complexity of the human character and given me the knowledge that life is shaped by how one handles positive and negative situations. In Cathy Dollanganger’s case, Cathy initially coped with her negative situation and tried to do right where her mother had failed her. She put her family first and showed generosity to everyone she came in contact with. As time went on though, Cathy clung to her past, and she lived her life with the sole intention of spiting her mother, which eventually led to her downfall.

From this series, I have taken away a multitude of life lessons, including the value and sometimes necessity of forgiving others so that ties with the past can be relinquished so that the present and future can be serenely experienced. Additionally, I have been inspired by many of Cathy’s adoring qualities to her family, and I aim to incorporate them someday with my family. I will always remember this book series and strive to live by the lessons I have learned from it.