Maddy struggles against societal and familial expectations that are based on a narrow and restrictive ideal of “normalcy” that she can never fully meet. The pressure from her mother and sister to live up to conventional standards is one of the central tensions of the novel. Maddy’s mother expects her to be a certain type of person: stable, productive, and conforming to traditional life milestones, such as marriage, a steady job, and academic success. When Maddy’s behavior veers away from this path due to her bipolar disorder, her mother’s disapproval is palpable, and she insists that Maddy’s life must fit into a rigid mold—one that would be impossible or undesirable for many people regardless of their mental health status. As the narrative unfolds, Maddy realizes that if she is to have any chance at happiness, she must reject that “normal” life altogether. The third-person narrator uses free-indirect style—a third-person narrative voice that closely tracks the character’s point of view—to convey Maddy’s rejection of conformity: “Is this what she’s supposed to want and strive for? Dressing in matching costumes, chitchatting about nothing, married with children, perpetuating this mind-numbingly meaningless nightmare, this endless loop of absurdity?” (34). She wants material stability and safety, but on her own terms. The pressure to conform to her mother’s vision of success creates internal conflict for Maddy, who feels that her identity and potential are limited by those expectations.

Maddy demonstrates her rejection of this “normalcy” when she chooses to pursue a career in comedy despite her mother and even Dr. Weaver warning her against it. The work is financially unstable, with odds stacked against success. It requires her to be vulnerable in front of dozens of strangers at a time, accepting the crushing emotional blows that come when her jokes fail to land. Above all, it means spending time in environments where the temptation to drink alcohol—dangerous for someone with her mental health condition—is ever present. Maddy understands these risks and chooses to accept them because comedy brings her joy, allows her to connect with others, and gives her a forum in which she can define her diagnosis and its relationship to her identity on her own terms. Though the life of a stand-up comic doesn’t look like her mother’s definition of “normal,” it gives her the chance to be herself.

As Maddy learns more about who she is and what she wants, she realizes that societal definitions of success and happiness can be arbitrary and suffocating. Her mother’s belief that Maddy should suppress her mental illness, even from those who love her, reflects the stigma and misunderstanding around mental health. The pressure to hide her diagnosis, and the way her family tries to prevent her from pursuing comedy, suggests that Maddy’s true self is something to be kept hidden, to be “fixed,” or to conform to what others deem acceptable. Maddy’s ultimate rejection of these pressures is an important moment in her development, as it signifies her desire to live authentically, even if it means rejecting the concept of normalcy altogether.