Within the novel, we see two real …show more content…
When we watch Lou through the eyes of Rhea, we are constantly reminded of her relationship with Jocelyn. “Look who’s the hostess now?” (53) Is one of the first time’s we see Rhea notice a true difference between herself and Jocelyn, even while Jocelyn is doing things that Rhea realizes she is viewing from the outside, she cannot separate herself from the idea that she is doing those acts as well, but the act of taking up the role of matriarch, becoming a “woman” in a way resonates with Rhea. On Lou’s deathbed, we see that Rhea has actually matured into a true woman, she has a family and Jocelyn has nothing. Rhea has regressed into a state where her mother helps her with everything. It’s a strange reverse maturation. Lou indoctrinated her into a seemingly adult world, but that was a sham. The lies and deceit of Lou’s world prevented her from reaching adult her by herself, and because of this, Rhea was able to escape. It is the harsh reality that Rhea was trapped with Jocelyn, the girl who fell for the tricks of an older man and succumbed to a paltry existence of drug abuse and sadness. “What do I have?” (87) is the question of Jocelyn’s life. What has she ever truly had? She most certainly never had Lou, and she lost Rolph as well. In the same way that Lou could only have real relationships with men, Jocelyn’s only real connection, the only thing she really had, was Rhea. Sadly though, however seemingly benevolent their friendship was, Jocelyn prevented Rhea from maturing on her own. Lou creates the separation that allowed Rhea to