Actions Of Lorraine example essay topic

The actions of Lorraine make her a fascinating Character in Andrea Ashworths's memoir 'Once in a House on Fire'. Lorraine renounces her maternal role, is reliant on her abusive partners, and is na " ive and trusting. Although attractive and infinitely loved by her three daughters, she suffers from low self esteem and bouts of depression. These factors combine to make Lorraine an interesting personality. The Untimely death of Andrea's father, Anthony Clarke, left Lorraine a widow with two children at 25. She hastily enters a relationship with an abusive man, Peter Hawkins and it is only after repeated outbreaks of violence, in which Lorraine's face had been left, "smacked scarlet" or "punched purple" that Lorraine finally attempts to distance her family from the violence.

Lorraine's willingness to put her family in danger is evidence of her reliance on men. Following the departure of Peter Hawkins, Lorraine meets her third partner Terry. "Out of the frying pan and into the flaming fire"; as Lorraine finds herself in yet another abusive relationship. The fact that she willingly leads her family into a second cycle of violence is further verification of her fear of dieing alone. As Lorraine's depression deepens, she sinks further into isolation and leaves Andrea, the eldest, to maintain the household. Subsequent to the departure of Peter Hawkins, Lorraine finds herself unable to rise in the morning, allowing Andrea to take over the ironing.

Andrea completes this early in the morning, so that she would not make Lorraine out to be a negligent mother. When Lorraine begins her new relationship with Terry, she frequently leaves the children unattended while she indulges herself, dating most nights. Her refusal to leave them Terry's phone number distresses the girls, as she irresponsibly justifies this, replying "nip round to auntie Tamara's if anything's the matter". Lorraine's fear of being alone contributes to her astonishing naivety as well as her trusting nature. Years of abuse at the hands of Peter Hawkins do not sway her from repetitively taking him back, and even after fleeing to Canada to escape him she still manages to forgive violent nature and believes him when he promises to "Change his ways". Later, even with Terry's history of violence, Lorraine agrees to marry him and 'as a gesture of trust's he transfers the tenancy into his name.

This turned out to be a mistake, for when Lorraine finally decided to leave him it generated further difficulties as police and the courts were forced to get involved. It is through her naivety that she is unable to rid herself of these violent men. Lorraine is described as an attractive woman, often compared "Natalie Wood", and yet still suffers from very low self esteem. She continually questions the girls "do I look alright. On one occasion Andrea witnessed Lorraine "frown at the lady in the mirror, as if she didn't deserve to look so lovely. It is interesting that such a beautiful woman should suffer from such low self esteem and feel such low self worth.

Lorraine is a captivating personality whose actions are the result of having low self esteem, and a fear of living "without a man". Because of these Character flaws she often comes across as being selfish and irresponsible, on many occasions relinquishing her maternal role and putting her family at risk from her violent partners. Moreover, these flaws cause her to make foolish decisions, as she is na " ive and trusting. These factors contribute to make Lorraine an interesting Character to discuss.