There are so many times in Just Listen when Annabel has a hard time getting the right words out. When she hurts Clarke's feelings as a kid, she has a difficult time apologizing and explaining herself; when she gets raped by Will Cash, she holds in the terrible truth and doesn't tell anyone—not even when Sophie turns on her and starts making her life miserable. And when she meets Owen, she's initially terrified by his expectation that they'll communicate openly.
But ever so slowly Annabel learns to open up and express how she feels. And despite the vulnerability associated with it, she feels a lot better once she does.
Questions About Language and Communication
- Why doesn't Annabel tell anyone about what happened with Will Cash? Why doesn't she explain to Sophie?
- Do you think Kristen's communication style change was an improvement by the end? Why or why not?
- How does Owen encourage Annabel to speak more freely?
- Why is Annabel so afraid of telling people how she really feels?
Chew on This
Because Annabel's always been the "nice" one in the family, she has a hard time expressing herself if she thinks doing so might hurt someone's feelings—but this just means she hurts herself instead.
Even though Kristen talks the most out of everyone in the family, in the end she finds out that she was never really communicating well. It is only when she learns to slow down and be concise that she really starts to connect with others.