By Dave Pelzer
đź“š Introduction đź“š
A Child Called “It” is a heart-wrenching memoir by Dave Pelzer, detailing the harrowing abuse he endured at the hands of his mother during his childhood. Published in 1995, this book is the first in a trilogy that explores Dave’s journey from a severely abused child to a successful and inspirational adult. The memoir belongs to the genre of autobiographical and biographical non-fiction and has touched the hearts of millions of readers worldwide. Dave Pelzer’s narrative sheds light on the dark realities of child abuse, aiming to raise awareness and inspire hope and resilience in those who suffer. With its raw and unflinching portrayal of Dave’s experiences, A Child Called “It” stands as a powerful testament to human strength and survival.
Plot Summary
Exposition — The memoir opens with Dave Pelzer recounting his early childhood years, which were filled with love and normalcy. However, this period of happiness abruptly ends as his mother begins to subject him to severe abuse. Dave is isolated from his family, deprived of food, and subjected to horrifying punishments. This initial setup introduces readers to the stark contrast between Dave’s early childhood and the nightmare that follows.
Rising Action — As the abuse intensifies, Dave’s struggle to survive becomes the central focus of the narrative. He is forced to endure physical, emotional, and psychological torture, including being starved, stabbed, and forced to eat vomit. Despite the severity of the abuse, Dave demonstrates remarkable resilience and determination to survive. The tension escalates as Dave’s attempts to seek help are thwarted by his mother’s manipulations and threats.
Climax — The climax of the memoir occurs when Dave’s teachers and school staff finally intervene. After years of neglect and torture, a concerned school nurse and teachers document Dave’s injuries and unusual behavior. This critical moment leads to the involvement of child protective services and ultimately, Dave’s rescue from his abusive environment.
Falling Action — Following his rescue, Dave is placed in foster care, where he begins to experience a sense of safety and normalcy for the first time in years. He struggles with trust and self-worth issues, but the support of his foster parents and counselors helps him start the healing process.
Resolution — The memoir concludes with Dave reflecting on his journey and the impact of his experiences. He expresses gratitude for the individuals who helped save him and emphasizes the importance of resilience and hope. Dave’s story ends on a hopeful note, with him finding a sense of peace and determination to use his experiences to help others.
Character Analysis
Dave Pelzer — Dave is the protagonist and narrator of the memoir. As a child, he is subjected to severe abuse but shows remarkable strength and resilience. Despite the constant fear and suffering, Dave’s will to survive never wanes. His character evolves from a terrified and isolated child to a hopeful and determined young adult. His motivations are driven by a desperate need for love, safety, and a sense of normalcy.
Catherine Roerva (Mother) — Dave’s mother is the primary antagonist in the story. Initially loving and caring, she transforms into a monstrous figure who inflicts unimaginable cruelty on her son. Her motivations are complex and seem rooted in her own psychological issues. Throughout the memoir, she exhibits manipulative and sadistic behavior, using her power to control and terrorize Dave.
Stephen Pelzer (Father) — Dave’s father is a complex character who, despite initially appearing as a potential protector, becomes a passive enabler of the abuse. His inability to stand up to his wife and protect Dave reflects his own weaknesses and fears. His character deteriorates from a hopeful figure to one of disappointment and betrayal.
Teachers and School Staff — Various teachers and school staff play crucial roles in Dave’s rescue. They notice the signs of abuse and take steps to document and report their concerns, ultimately leading to Dave’s salvation. Their collective character represents the positive impact that caring and vigilant adults can have on a child’s life.
Character Analysis Summary
| Character | Personality | Motivations | Development |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dave Pelzer | Resilient, Courageous, Determined | Survive and find safety and love | From a terrified child to a hopeful survivor |
| Catherine Roerva (Mother) | Sadistic, Manipulative, Cruel | Control and inflict pain | From a loving mother to a monstrous figure |
| Stephen Pelzer (Father) | Weak, Passive, Fearful | Avoid conflict, maintain peace | From a potential protector to an enabler |
| Teachers and School Staff | Caring, Vigilant, Determined | Protect and save Dave | From concerned observers to active saviors |
Themes and Symbols
Themes
- Abuse and Survival — The central theme of the memoir is the severe abuse Dave endures and his will to survive. The narrative provides a stark and honest look at the impact of child abuse and the resilience required to overcome it.
- Hope and Resilience — Despite the relentless abuse, Dave’s story is ultimately one of hope and resilience. His ability to survive and eventually thrive serves as an inspiration to others facing similar challenges.
- The Failure of Protection — The memoir highlights the failure of those around Dave to protect him, particularly his father and the initial indifference of others. It underscores the importance of vigilance and intervention in cases of abuse.
- The Power of Courage and Advocacy — The role of Dave’s teachers and school staff in his rescue emphasizes the impact that courageous and compassionate individuals can have in protecting vulnerable children.
Symbols
- The House — Dave’s home, particularly the basement where he is often confined, symbolizes his prison and the epicenter of his suffering. It represents the duality of what should be a place of safety turning into a place of horror.
- Food — Throughout the memoir, food symbolizes both survival and punishment. Dave’s deprivation of food is a tool of control and torture, while moments when he manages to steal food symbolize his fight for survival.
- The Mirror — The mirror in which Dave is forced to look at himself after being beaten symbolizes his mother’s psychological control and the internalization of his suffering and dehumanization.
Style and Tone
- Autobiographical — The memoir is written in the first person, providing an intimate and personal account of Dave’s experiences.
- Descriptive — Pelzer uses vivid and detailed descriptions to convey the horrors of his abuse, making the reader viscerally feel his pain and fear.
- Reflective — The narrative often reflects on past events, providing insights and lessons learned from those experiences.
- Somber — The overall tone of the memoir is somber, reflecting the grave and serious nature of the abuse Dave suffered.
- Hopeful — Despite the dark subject matter, the memoir also carries a tone of hope and resilience, highlighting Dave’s survival and eventual triumph.
- Empathetic — The tone is empathetic, inviting readers to understand and feel the depth of Dave’s suffering and the strength of his spirit.
Literary Devices used in A Child Called “It”
- Imagery — Pelzer uses vivid imagery to describe the abuse and the environment, creating a powerful and immersive reading experience.
- Metaphor — Metaphors are used to compare Dave’s experiences to broader concepts, enhancing the emotional impact of his story.
- Simile — Similes are frequently used to draw comparisons that highlight the severity of the abuse and Dave’s emotional state.
- Irony — Irony is used to underscore the tragic and often contradictory aspects of Dave’s life, such as the stark contrast between his home life and the outside world.
- Symbolism — Various objects and situations in the memoir are imbued with symbolic meaning, enriching the narrative and providing deeper insights.
- Hyperbole — Hyperbolic statements are used to emphasize the extreme nature of the abuse and the intensity of Dave’s emotions.
- Flashback — The narrative structure includes flashbacks that provide context and background to Dave’s current experiences.
- Foreshadowing — Foreshadowing is used to hint at future events, creating suspense and a sense of inevitability.
- Personification — Personification is occasionally used to give human qualities to non-human elements, enhancing the emotional resonance of the narrative.
- Allusion — References to cultural and historical elements are used to contextualize Dave’s experiences and draw parallels to broader themes.
Literary Devices Examples
Imagery
| Example | Explanation |
|---|---|
| “The house smelled of rotten food and neglect.” | Creates a vivid sensory image of Dave’s living environment. |
| “Her eyes were cold and lifeless, like two dark holes in her face.” | Vividly describes his mother’s menacing appearance. |
| “The basement was a dungeon, dark and damp, filled with my nightmares.” | Conveys the oppressive and frightening atmosphere of the basement. |
Metaphor
| Example | Explanation |
|---|---|
| “I was her prisoner, trapped in a cage of fear.” | Compares his situation to being imprisoned. |
| “Her words were knives, cutting into my soul.” | Compares the emotional pain of her |
words to physical wounds. |
| “My life was a storm, with no end in sight.” | Compares his tumultuous life to a relentless storm. |
Simile
| Example | Explanation |
|---|---|
| “I felt like a beaten dog, cowering in fear.” | Compares his fear and submission to that of an abused animal. |
| “Her touch was as cold as ice.” | Emphasizes the coldness and cruelty of his mother’s touch. |
| “My hope was like a flickering candle in the dark.” | Compares his fragile hope to a weak, flickering light. |
Irony
| Example | Explanation |
|---|---|
| “She was a mother in name only, her love replaced by hate.” | Highlights the contradiction of a mother being abusive. |
| “Home was supposed to be safe, but it was my prison.” | The irony of home, a place of safety, being a place of horror. |
| “The holidays were a time of joy for others, but torture for me.” | Contrasts societal joy with his personal suffering. |
Symbolism
| Example | Explanation |
|---|---|
| “The house” | Symbolizes Dave’s prison and the epicenter of his suffering. |
| “Food” | Symbolizes both survival and punishment. |
| “The mirror” | Symbolizes his mother’s psychological control and dehumanization. |
Hyperbole
| Example | Explanation |
|---|---|
| “I thought my heart would explode from the fear.” | Exaggerates the intensity of his fear. |
| “She was the most powerful force in my life, like a relentless hurricane.” | Exaggerates his mother’s control and impact on his life. |
| “The pain was so intense, it felt like I was being torn apart.” | Exaggerates the physical pain to emphasize its severity. |
Flashback
| Example | Explanation |
|---|---|
| “I remembered the days when my mother loved me, when she hugged me tight.” | Provides context and contrast to his current suffering. |
| “Flashbacks of happier times haunted my dreams.” | Enhances the emotional impact by contrasting past and present. |
| “Memories of my father’s laughter filled my mind.” | Offers a glimpse into the happier moments of his past. |
Foreshadowing
| Example | Explanation |
|---|---|
| “There were signs of something dark to come, but I didn’t see them then.” | Hints at the future abuse. |
| “Little did I know, this was only the beginning of my nightmare.” | Creates suspense by hinting at worse events to come. |
| “Her smile hid the cruelty that would soon reveal itself.” | Foreshadows the mother’s transformation into an abuser. |
Personification
| Example | Explanation |
|---|---|
| “The walls seemed to close in on me, whispering my fears.” | Gives human qualities to the walls to enhance the feeling of entrapment. |
| “The wind howled like a wounded animal, echoing my pain.” | Personifies the wind to reflect his inner turmoil. |
| “The shadows danced around me, mocking my misery.” | Gives life to shadows to heighten the sense of being tormented. |
Allusion
| Example | Explanation |
|---|---|
| “Her punishments were like those in a dark fairy tale, where the witch prevails.” | Alludes to fairy tales to highlight the severity and cruelty of the punishments. |
| “I felt like Oliver Twist, begging for more food.” | Alludes to the character from Charles Dickens’ novel to emphasize his starvation. |
| “My life was a grim story, akin to those in Dickens’ novels.” | Alludes to the bleak and harsh realities depicted in Dickens’ works. |
Dave Pelzer’s A Child Called “It” – FAQs
A Child Called “It” – FAQs
Q: What genre does A Child Called “It” belong to?
A: It belongs to the autobiographical and biographical non-fiction genre.
Q: Who is Dave Pelzer?
A: Dave Pelzer is the author and protagonist of the memoir, known for his inspiring story of survival and resilience.
Q: What are some major themes in A Child Called “It”?
A: Major themes include abuse and survival, hope and resilience, the failure of protection, and the power of courage and advocacy.
Q: Is there a central plot in A Child Called “It”?
A: The book is structured as a memoir with a focus on Dave’s experiences of abuse and his eventual rescue, rather than a traditional narrative plot.
Q: What writing style does Dave Pelzer use?
A: Pelzer uses an autobiographical, descriptive, and reflective style.
Q: Can you give an example of metaphor in the book?
A: “I was her prisoner, trapped in a cage of fear.”
Q: How does Pelzer use irony in his memoir?
A: Irony is used to highlight the contradictions and tragic aspects of Dave’s life, such as his home being a place of horror instead of safety.
Q: What makes A Child Called “It” impactful?
A: The raw and unflinching portrayal of abuse, combined with Dave’s resilience and survival, makes the memoir deeply impactful and inspirational.
Quiz
| Question | Options |
|---|---|
| 1. What is the primary genre of A Child Called “It”? | A) Science Fiction B) Romance C) Autobiographical Non-fiction D) Mystery |
| 2. Who is the primary antagonist in the memoir? | A) Dave Pelzer B) Stephen Pelzer C) Catherine Roerva D) Teachers |
| 3. What theme is prominent in Dave’s story? | A) Adventure B) Absurdity C) Survival D) Tragedy |
| 4. How does Dave’s mother treat him? | A) Lovingly B) Indifferently C) Abusively D) Supportively |
| 5. What literary device is used in “I was her prisoner, trapped in a cage of fear”? | A) Metaphor B) Simile C) Hyperbole D) Irony |
Exercise
Read the following paragraph and identify the literary devices used:
“The walls seemed to close in on me, whispering my fears. I felt like a beaten dog, cowering in the corner, while her words cut through me like knives. The basement was a dungeon, dark and damp, filled with my nightmares.”
Answers:
- Personification: “The walls seemed to close in on me, whispering my fears.”
- Simile: “I felt like a beaten dog, cowering in the corner.”
- Metaphor: “her words cut through me like knives.”
- Imagery: “The basement was a dungeon, dark and damp, filled with my nightmares.”