Introduction
In chapters 17 and 18 of Educated, Tara Westover recounts her struggles and revelations upon encountering the world outside her religious community for the first time. Tara Westover is an American author who specializes in history, memoirs, and essays, and her upbringing as a survivalist Mormon influences her work.
The author begins by describing her new environment and how unusual it seemed to her (Westover 153). Next, she describes her shock at finding out that a woman, who dressed inappropriately in Westover’s view, went to church (Westover 154). After, Westover explains the concept of black-hole words: the notions that she could not understand due to her upbringing (Westover 157). Towards the end, the author recounts an incident involving an owl that could not heal in the human-dominated environment, then moves on to discuss the themes of belonging and adaptation (Westover 163–165).
The themes presented in the text have strong potential to resonate with readers because the feeling of being out of place is a common experience. I like the text because it provides relatability, vividly describes the sense of cultural shock, and inspires hope for a happy ending.
Personal Reflection on the Reading
Relatability
First, I like the text because it provides a sense of relatability. The text describes a woman’s first encounter with leaving her parents and the place where she grew up. Many people have had to move away for college, work, relationships, and other reasons, which makes the experience deeply relatable.
Changing places often comes with new environmental challenges. For example, people moving to other countries can find it challenging to adapt to specific traditions, such as the siesta in Spain or the practice of napping during the day in Vietnam. For Westover, it was the persistent noise: “Nowhere was quiet” (154). This instance demonstrates that the author is a real person whom the audience can relate to. Relatability is a powerful tool that creates a connection between the reader and the author.
Cultural Shock
Second, I appreciate this text for its portrayal of the character’s cultural shock. The protagonist’s ignorance comes out as an astonishing revelation, primarily due to the sensitive matter of the subjects of her ignorance, for example, the Holocaust. The author states: “A wave of emotion took hold, a feeling so intense, so unfamiliar, I wasn’t sure what it was” (157). This quotation reveals her shock and anger, which lay the first seeds of rebellion against her old life. These notions create a sense of sympathy towards the character despite the shocking nature of her ignorance.
Hope
Third, I like the text because it conveys a sense of hope that the character’s story will have a happy ending. The chapter concludes with the character working hard to overcome the obstacles in her way, offering hope for her future. This sense is reinforced by the author’s delight, as expressed in the following passage: “I wanted to punch the air, give Vanessa a high five” (166). It clearly shows that hard work and a bit of luck result in outstanding achievement. This, in turn, gives hope that the protagonist will continue to work hard and achieve plenty in the future.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the work offers a poignant display of relatability, hope for the better, and a stark showcase of the consequences of willful ignorance. Despite the text’s brilliant qualities, some people might disagree with its value. The character’s ignorance and judgmental nature might not result in the most favorable outlook towards her. However, to fully enjoy and understand the material, it is essential to give the characters the benefit of the doubt and be patient with the work’s direction.
Work Cited
Westover, Tara. Educated. Random House, 2018.