Educated By Kober Westover Sparknotes

Sabontu Justin Bonnett ENGL 1711-09 5 March 2024 Educated In Tara Westover’s autobiography “Educated” she explores the complex dynamics of her family relationship and personal identity, that shaped her unrestricted upbringing. Despite the expectations within her family story for each role, the members of the Westover family revealed profound depths within themselves. Tara’s father, Gene, is a prime example of this intricacy, with his complex personality and his unique connection with Tara providing insight into the family dynamics, by exploring Gene’s multiple characteristics and how he changes in his interactions with Tara, showcasing their complexity and uniqueness. Gene Westover’s character is defined by numerous contradictions that showcase

Nevertheless, Gene’s self-reliance contrasts with his dependencies on validation from the outside influences, especially his strict compliance to the teachings of the fundamentalist Mormon faith and his steadfast trust in his own understanding of religious scripture. Westover describes how her father’s beliefs are deeply rooted and resistant to change, shaping his perspective and impacting his interactions with his family. Although Gene’s unwavering commitment to self-sufficiency, his dependence on outside sources of authority, such as the teachings of the fundamentalist Mormon faith, reveals the complexity of his character. As Westover contemplates “My father said he didn’t trust doctors, but he couldn’t refute their science. And so the family was torn between two competing ideologies, traversing a boundary between two worlds that would never understand each other" (Westover, 78). The relationship between Gene and Tara is marked by a lack of love, control, and conflict, reflecting the complexities of familial bonds in the context of Westover’s

One moment he could be warm and affectionate, the next distant and cold. It was a constant source of uncertainty and anxiety, yet I found myself yearning for his approval even as I grew increasingly distant from his beliefs" (Westover, 112). Despite the conflicts and differences between them, Gene’s influence on Tara’s identity is deep and persistent. It shapes how she views the world and herself, both in empowering and challenging ways. Tara’s journey of self-discovery and education is closely tied to her efforts to reconcile her father’s teaching with her own experiences and goals. While Gene’s focus on self-reliance and resilience teaches Tara valuable lessons, it also puts restrictions on her ability to pursue her own dreams and ambitions. Eventually, Tara uses education to assert her independence and challenge the boundaries set by her father’s beliefs. Tara's journey of self-discovery towards her own ambitions met with challenges from her father's conflicting beliefs and