The Walls Around Us Analysis

“To control the mind with force is like putting a viper in a basket.” -Maharaj Charan Singh. In The Walls Around Us, as in life, people do not respond well to being controlled by force- when they are given the chance to rebel or let out their angst, they tend to do it in much larger, more violent ways than if they could let it out in small, controllable bursts.
For example, the prisoners have been controlled in every sense to the point where they risk life and limb to “escape” when given the opportunity. “Maybe we should have been sensible about our sudden freedom, cautious. We weren’t.” (pg. 5) But who can blame them? They were controlled in every sense they could be- they weren’t allowed to wear their shoes inside their cells or be late to meals or shower when they wanted. They weren’t allowed to talk back or talk too much- laughing was often a problem. (pg. 189) Suicide was such an issue
because of these conditions that there was a suicide watch dorm where the girls were stripped even further of rights to “protect” them. Authority was absolute- could not be questioned for fear of punishment; authority was indubitable; authority could not be wrong. The girls had no way to stand up for themselves or to protect themselves against something to menacing. When given the opportunity to rebel against something like that, who wouldn’t? Jody had been “rebelling” or “regaining some sliver of control” for a long time by running herself into the door. She was the one to discover their temporary freedom. She yelled- sharing this freedom with those around her. She knew that even if she didn’t like the girls around her, that they were in it with her- a band of teenage delinquents poised against the system. The girls ran, shouted, tried to escape- anything to show that they had not been crushed by the system, had not been beaten, were still the tough and rough girls that came into Aurora Hills.
Violet, on the other had was also controlled.
She was controlled by the kids who bullied her and the societal expectations of being a pretty teenage ballerina. “She wouldn’t be feeling any of this pressure to be perfect, like I am. She’d be relaxed, loose, even smiling.” (pg. 15) Violet is constantly comparing herself to Orianna- she doesn’t think she is as pretty or as good of a dancer as Ori was- she is controlled by her own insecurities. Harmony and Rachel abused that knowledge- calling her ugly, fat, a skeleton, a lesbo, a virgin, a slut. (pg. 238) all cruel and unfair things to call a girl who still isn’t sure of herself- their words began to control her mind. Then, when the boys sexualized her- talking about her ass and apparent lack of cleavage- she took that to heart- she internalized their words (pg. 241). Maybe that’s why she decided to do those things to Cody, maybe she was acting on a primal desire, maybe she just wanted them to like her. Regardless of why, she was coerced into giving him oral and the pictures the girls took of her controlled her later
actions.
It is arguable to say that prison (or a detention center) is not the appropriate place for teenagers. It is arguable to say that anyone who commits a crime deserves punishment. It is arguable to say that Violet killed Harmony and Rachel because they tormented her. It is also arguable to say that bullying is not a reason to kill people and then let your best friend take the blame. Regardless of one’s opinion on that, it is definite to say that the elements that controlled the girls’ lives certainly influenced their decisions and actions.