Everything I Never Told You Themes

"Everything I Never Told You" is a novel by Celeste Ng that explores the themes of communication, cultural identity, and societal expectations. The novel portrays a family struggling to come to terms with the disappearance of their daughter, Lydia, and how years of unspoken emotions, misunderstandings, and unfulfilled expectations led to her tragic demise. Similarly, Shakespeare's sonnets and plays also deal with the themes of communication, cultural identity, and societal expectations, with many of his characters experiencing a similar sense of alienation and isolation due to their inability to express themselves. In this essay, I will explore the similarities between "Everything I Never Told You" and Shakespeare's works, focusing on the themes

In Shakespeare's sonnets, the speaker often uses silence as a way to express their love for the beloved. In Sonnet 130, the speaker describes their beloved as having "wires for hairs" and "breasts of snow," but ultimately concludes that their love for her transcends her physical appearance. Similarly, in "Everything I Never Told You," the characters often use silence as a way of expressing their emotions. Lydia's silence about her true aspirations and feelings ultimately leads to her death. Ng writes, "Everything in her life was a lie, and she had to pretend that it wasn't" (Ng, 115). This quote highlights the idea that silence can be just as destructive as words and that the failure to express oneself can have serious consequences. Similarly, in "Everything I Never Told You," silence is used as a way of expressing emotions and hiding truths. Lydia's silence about her true aspirations and feelings ultimately leads to her death. Throughout the novel, Lydia is burdened by the weight of her parents' expectations and the pressure to be perfect. She keeps her true desires hidden from her family and instead, tries to conform to their expectations. Her silence suggests that the failure to express oneself can have serious consequences, and that hiding the truth can be just as destructive as lying. Moreover, the theme of silence also highlights the power dynamics that exist between individuals. In both works, silence can be a way of asserting power and control over others. In Shakespeare's sonnets, the speaker's silence about his beloved's flaws suggests that he has the power to look beyond superficial appearances and see the true beauty within. In "Everything I Never Told You," the family's silence about their true feelings suggests a lack of trust and understanding between them. The parents' silence about their own struggles and mistakes contributes to the breakdown of their relationships with their children. This use of