San Francisco: so close, and yet so far away. Even though the big city is half an hour away from Pacifica, it might as well be another world, at least from Deanna's POV in Story of a Girl.
High school is kind of like putting blinders on: it's easy to believe the people who surround you are the only people who ever will. Deanna's self-esteem and hope for the future are so low they're almost nonexistent, so she comforts herself with dreams of escape she only halfway expects to come true. She's already resigned herself to being confined to Pacifica, but at least she still dreams of freedom… And as the old saying goes, you can't start a fire without a spark. Maybe Deanna's dreams will eventually set her free.
Questions About Freedom and Confinement
- What are some of the ways Deanna hints at her need for freedom in the stories she writes? How does she escape vicariously through the character of the girl?
- Why does Stacy choose to come back to the confinement of the Lamberts' house after a weekend of freedom with Corvette Kim?
- Why does Deanna think she and Jason will both be confined to Pacifica, with no hope of escape?
Chew on This
Deanna is willing to spend the summer confined to a pizza parlor with Tommy if it means she'll eventually be able to leave him behind.
Deanna dreams about the freedom of having her own place, but she also dreams about doing mundane family stuff with Darren and Stacy—like hanging out in their kitchen or going out for burritos. Her need for the familiar is as strong as her need for a new beginning.