Lost and Found

“Darcy loved her sister. Once, they had been good friends. But now all Jamee cared about was her new group of rowdy friends.”

This quote showcases the theme of Deepening the Bonds of Sisterhood by establishing the conflict between Darcy and Jamee early on in the story. Darcy and Jamee once had a close bond, but now their relationship is filled with tension because of Jamee’s self-isolated state. Pointing out that Jamee’s new friends are “rowdy” foreshadows the dangers that Jamee finds herself in and emphasizes Jamee’s rebellion and alienation. The dissolving connection between the two sisters shows the impact of outside influences on family relationships.

“It was hard for Darcy to meet new people, especially someone like Tarah, a person Aunt Charlotte would call ‘low class.’”

Darcy’s internal conflict regarding social class and judgment comes from her own arrogant belief that she is better than others, but as her comment about Aunt Charlotte implies, these views are not necessarily her own. Her growth through the story is largely based around the theme of Questioning Preconceptions and Embracing Possibilities as she is forced to confront her preconceived notions. The phrase “low class” defines Darcy’s prejudice as based on socio-economic status and sets the stage for Darcy’s eventual realization that biases should not define relationships and do not reflect reality.