The tough thing about living with Nikki in The Rules of Survival is that as the sole adult, she has all the power—even though she's not exactly qualified to be the head of her family. Matthew, Callie, and Emmy may actively hate Nikki sometimes, but they still have to listen to her and live under her oppressive rules because otherwise, they'll get hurt.
When Nikki loses custody, though, the kids realize that she doesn't have any sort of power over them anymore. She can scream and wreak havoc on the house all she wants, but she cannot tell them what to do any longer. They finally get to live their own lives and make their own decisions.
Questions About Power
- Do you think that Nikki really loves her kids, or does she just like controlling them? Use the text to support your answer.
- Why does Nikki get so upset when Murdoch breaks up with her? Is it unique to him?
- How does Nikki exert so much power over men that she meets at the bar?
- How does Matthew stand up to Nikki at the very end? Does he really? Explain your response using the text.
Chew on This
Nikki is infuriated by Murdoch because he doesn't fall under her powers of seduction and control.
Even though Emmy is the youngest of the Walsh kids, she is the only one who is willing to stand up to Nikki on a regular basis and question her power. This is due to the fact that Emmy has not suffered as much as her siblings, and because of this, her fighting spirit remains intact.