He tells her that “this means I don’t have to do what you say anymore”, as he feels that his mother has lost all moral authority over him.

With frequent signs of this possible behaviour occurring, such as his mother leaving to the city more often than usual and the believed cause of her unhappiness being Charlie’s father’s lack of wealth and the initial move to Corrigan. Catching his mother in the act of being unfaithful to his father drastically changed him. Other instances had a vast impact on Charlie and his identity. By likening Charlie’s mother to a “snake”, Silvey highlights to the reader how angry she is and furthermore how toxic and tense their relationship has become. Charlie uses the simile of a “snake poised to strike” after the night he disappeared off with jasper. as the book unfolded so did ruths true colours. In the novel Silvey uses an array of quotes to express ruths negative behaviour and the effects it had on Charlie. Throughout the novel it is evident she becomes a blunt and impatient woman snapping and criticising her son and husband for no apparent reasons. This showed in her interactions with young Charlie and her husband Wesley.

She carried an extreme resentment for her life in Corrigan. His mother Ruth was a vindictive bitter woman. Statistics show emotionally abusive parents are not uncommon with emotional abuse being the most common type of substantiated child maltreatment in Australia during 2015-16 with 45% of children either living or being involved with this type of treatment. Due to the absence of Jaspers’s father, he was forced to mature whilst other kids were still being kids, this was apparent in the quote ‘ I been lookin’ after myself since I can remember.’ This happens to this day with around 21% of children living or being involved with alcohol or substance-abusing parents. In Jaspers’ case, the absent alcoholic father intertwined with the fact he is half aboriginal caused him to be the outcast of the town. The novel is full of examples of dysfunctional families. It will also impact their relationships, behaviours and their future. Family dynamics will ultimately impact and influence the way young people view others and their surroundings.

Jasper jones author