Summary Of She's Come Undone By Wally Lamb

In “She’s Come Undone”, Dolores Price is a woman who tells her story from the age of four to the age of forty years old. She goes through many obstacles in which first include her mother’s miscarriage that left her mother wounded mentally, she would walk around like a zombie and disregard her daughter, Dolores. Since, the miscarriage her mother and father drifted apart and eventually got divorced leaving Dolores devastated and left not understanding why all this is happening. Her family then separated and she goes to live with her grandmother and mother where they soon buy a TV which starts it all. Wally Lamb the author of She’s Come Undone was born in Norwich, CT which influences the setting of the book. Wally Lamb also had a close friend

Dolores was given snacks and sat hours in front of the TV, allowing her weight to exceed and be fat. Soon, her mother would die in a car accident and Dolores would honor her mother’s wish and attend college. She met a lesbian janitor and they became best friends and they were both fat. “We’re Whales” (232), she said hunchbacks specifically due to their bellies. But she was happy, “This is new. For four years I’d been hated, ignored because of my weight with Dottie, it was an advantage” (183). Dolores felt some acceptance and trust for someone. But in the end she was used for satisfaction and Dolores left. Dolores left to commit suicide where the whales surface Rhode Island. “The Whales living had taken all by surprise” (246), this was a sign that Dolores would survive after attempted suicide even though everyone she ever loved has left her. The whales would then become a symbol of hope for her new life. “ Recognized him. Part man, part whale” (461).Dolores drew the man she envisioned that would be her love but erased it away, but now she has that man by her side, Thayer her new beginning. “ She breaches...Thayer, I saw her!”(269), the whale is a sign of her new beginning and hope, this is a moment of clarity that her survival and pain all played off as she decides to marry Thayer. The whale is a symbol for Dolores fat but also a new beginning. The whale shows that

When she was in the mental institution, her therapist decided to do something new with her. “ Trying, perhaps, to reenter the safety of your mother - to return to the warm, wet protection of the person who hadn’t yet failed you”(269), Dr. Shaw wants to let Dolores relive her life from the wound where Dr. Shaw would be her mother. In this process she would be able to learn why she so mad and sad about her life that she tried to kill herself. Also, to try to learn why she doesn't like talking about her mother and she does. “ I'm not keeping your fucking secret anymore! I'm sick…. He hurt me, Mommy! He kept hurting me and hurting me, Mommy, and I'm not eating any more of your-...Im empty”(282). She lets go of her pain towards her mother, she is finally free of that pain and anger towards her mom. After to learns to let go of her anger towards her mom she moves on in her life and marries Dante. When she married Dante she hid and told so many lies about herself and how she found Dante that she forgets who she was. But she begin to realize that Dante was not who she thought he was because people can change. She changed for him too and she liked who she was becoming but not with him anymore. “ I couldn't stop. I felt wonderful- as free as Ma’s flying leg”(403), Dolores said at the moment she told Dante who she was before she met Dante and how to came to know him. She