In my essay, I will discuss the novel 'A child called it' by Dave Pelzer. This book highlights Dave's remarkable strength and perseverance as he faces various difficulties throughout the most trying period of his life. More specifically, I will narrate his encounters between ages 4 and 12.
Although primarily focused on abuse, this book also explores how Dave Pelzer utilized his mother's abuse as a source of motivation, ultimately leading to his success in life. Dave Pelzer's upbringing was marked by severe abuse, making him one of California's three most severely abused children in history. Tragically, the other two children did not survive the abuse, and Dave himself easily could have suffered the same fate. However, the earlier part of Dave's life was filled with cherished memories of his family, whom he describes as affectionate and fondly recalls th
...eir enjoyable holidays and trips to the Russian River.
When Dave reached first grade, everything changed. His mother inexplicably targeted him among his siblings and started mistreating him. The mistreatment started off mild. Whenever his brothers misbehaved, Dave would be the one facing punishment. Initially, he would be sent to a corner of a bedroom, but this soon escalated to him being forced to consume a mixture of Ammonia and Bleach.
Then his mother began spending her days watching TV and drinking beer. Becoming easily irritated, she yelled at Dave for the smallest reasons. Eventually, instead of simply isolating him, Mrs Pelzer forcefully smashed Dave's face against the mirror and coerced him into repeating the phrase "I'm a bad boy! I'm a bad boy!" He was made to spend countless hours staring into that mirror.
Throughout the novel, Dav
provides a highly detailed account of various events, including his mother's actions such as burning his arm on a hot stove, depriving him of food, and purposely stabbing him in the stomach under the guise of an accident. With the arrival of a new baby, Dave was compelled to consume food from dirty and soiled diapers. The teachers reached their breaking point when 12-year-old Dave appeared at school with severely burned arms because he had been forced to soak them in ammonia. Despite the school nurse's daily examinations where she documented Dave's new injuries, it took years for the school to report the abuse - this was during a time when child abuse reporting was not mandatory. Finally, after much delay, the school contacted the police.
Throughout the novel, Dave reminisces about the "good times" when his family was perfect, and they had wonderful holidays at the Russian River. He longs for his mother to be the loving mum she used to be and remembers himself as a young boy. This technique effectively immerses the reader, making them feel like a bystander witnessing the events unfold. The image of ten-year-old Dave forced to sit in the POW position for hours, hoping to be called to wash dishes and receive a scrap of food, sleeping without blankets on an old army cot in a basement, is haunting. Among the numerous instances of physical abuse described in the novel, one that stands out as particularly damaging is the constant struggle for food. The young child endures countless days without eating and resorts to stealing from classmates and the school cafeteria. Desperate, he even eats frozen food taken from
his mother's freezer.
'The Bitch' called him a bad boy, which made me question how a young boy like Dave could survive such torture. He couldn't eat unless given permission, and even then, it was just scraps from the dogs' leftovers. It was sad to think that no one took action sooner, considering his desperate need for food and his shabby clothes. I later found out that schools weren't always responsible for reporting child abuse cases in the 1970s in California. There were little to no laws protecting children or those who reported abuse. That's why Dave's mother, Catherine Roerva, was never prosecuted. The worst instance of abuse was when 'The Bitch' threatened Dave with a knife while holding her baby boy Russell. She ended up stabbing Dave in the stomach, causing him to pass out. Instead of taking him to the hospital, his mother just dressed the wound and added 15 minutes to his chores. After being stabbed, his mother gave him a glass of water, which emphasized his desperate need for nourishment: "Mother returned with a glass of water. I gulped it down."
"Heaven" is the term that comes to mind when reflecting on the speed at which I could consume a glass of water. It represented hope in a series of compassionate gestures from my mother. The instance that inflicted the greatest anguish upon me was when "The Bitch" abruptly altered her demeanor, expressing remorse for her previous actions and treating me with dignity rather than as an object. I couldn't fathom my good fortune, but regrettably, it was short-lived. The subsequent day, a Social Services representative arrived in response to reports of mistreatment.
Dave's
dreams of rejoining 'The Family' were shattered that day. Reading this book, a multitude of emotions welled up within me. First and foremost, I felt disturbed by the explicit portrayal of the agony suffered by this young boy and the immense shame he likely faced among his peers. Furthermore, my feelings towards the individuals he called his Mother and Father turned into intense repulsion. The fact that the educational system failed to acknowledge and address the prolonged abuse inflicted upon this child deeply troubled me.
The book presents a unique perspective, allowing readers to see the world through the author's eyes. It is unfortunate that the author had to go through a difficult life to become who he is today. Overcoming such adversity requires great strength of will, spirit, and physical ability, demonstrating his resilience. Despite his troubled past, Dave achieved impressive accomplishments as a senior authority in the U.S Air Force. He played a vital role in significant operations like Desert Storm, Desert Shield, and Operation Just Cause. These missions involved refueling secretive aircraft such as the SR-71 Blackbird and F-117 Stealth fighter while they were in flight. Across all three of his books, Pelzer employs techniques that offer genuine insight into his life from childhood to adulthood when he formed his own loving family. The novel also utilizes vivid imagery with words that paint detailed mental pictures for readers without leaving anything to imagination.
In the novel, the protagonist's mother exhibits cruelty and isolation towards both Dave and their neighbors whom she initially befriends. However, when they question her parenting abilities, she severs ties with them and spreads falsehoods about them to her own children. Even Dave's grandmother
becomes a victim of her malicious treatment as Christmas gifts sent to her are either destroyed or discarded. The main theme of this book is child abuse, which is clearly depicted. In addition, there are several underlying themes that emerge throughout the story. One such theme is survival as Dave defies the odds stacked against him and channels his mother's abuse into positive energy that drives him forward in life. By utilizing his hatred and anger, he transforms himself into the person he is today. This transformation becomes evident when Dave uses his mother's hurtful words as motivation for personal growth. It is this resilience that earns my utmost respect for him.
During my research for my Specialist Study, I gathered information from multiple websites including www.davepelzer.com and www.amazon.co.uk/exec/books. These sources provided me with valuable facts, such as the time when reporting child abuse became mandatory, as well as insights into Dave's career in the U S Air Force. Additionally, I explored FAQs from fans of Dave's books and discovered that he does not harbor hatred towards his mother, and would visit her during his time off from service.
