The Lottery Rose

Content Warning: The source material contains descriptions of child neglect, abuse, trauma, and child death.

The effects of neglect and abuse on children can be far-reaching and can impact every aspect of their lives. It is vital for children who have experienced trauma or abuse to receive appropriate support and interventions to help them heal, though some children may never fully recover emotionally. Georgie’s path to healing is not straightforward, and he faces setbacks and difficulties. However, Georgie eventually achieves peace and acceptance because of his perseverance and the newfound support of those around him.

The opening scenes of the novel show Georgie struggling through a school day, depicting the cognitive and behavioral effects of abuse on his body and mind. Not only is he writhing in pain from his physical wounds, but the emotional and psychological trauma impedes his ability to perform at school, and he acts out his pent-up aggression by starting fires. Georgie’s struggles at school, combined with his mother’s neglect and his fear of Steve’s reappearance, impact his self-esteem. Georgie struggles with feelings of worthlessness and inadequacy, believing himself unlovable and unworthy of affection.

When Georgie’s mother apologizes and comforts Georgie after seeing his wounds from Steve, George understands that her words are empty promises. This implies that there have been many past times in which his mother promised they would escape from the harmful situation. Georgie’s mother also participates in Georgie’s abuse alongside Steve at times. Thus, even alone with his mother, he does not feel completely physically safe. Early in the narrative, there is no safe place for Georgie. Even at the grocery store, he is paranoid about Steve’s reappearance and his opinion of his behavior and ownership of the rosebush. Georgie displays his craving for closeness and capacity for love when he attaches himself to the rosebush and pours all his energy into saving it. Georgie’s heartrending story portrays the consequences of abuse and trauma on a young person, emphasizing the necessity of compassion, empathy, and skilled support in assisting children to recuperate from their prior traumas.

The court removes Georgie from his abusive home, but the novel displays the long-term psychological effects of abuse and how it changes a child’s worldview. Emotional and physical withdrawal is a common coping mechanism for abuse. Georgie’s horrific experiences have left him defensive and introverted, separating himself from others and avoiding emotional ties. Georgie struggles to overcome his fears and suspicions of adults stemming from his trauma. He explains his perception of life to Sister Mary Angela: “Ever’thing was mean” (99). Living in a mean world forces Georgie to live in a constant state of fear response. Because of his past, Georgie doesn’t know how to accept kindness and assumes everyone has bad intentions. His healing is an ongoing process where his new caregivers must earn his trust through being patient with Georgie, as he has difficulty regulating his emotions and exhibits mood swings and emotional outbursts. Long after his arm and back heal, Georgie’s psychological wounds remain fresh and tender.

Gradually, he allows Sister Mary Angela and Mr. Collier into his world, but Georgie channels all his remaining bitterness and anger into his hatred of Mrs. Harper. By introducing him to the healing power of music and theater, Sister Mary Angela helps Georgie use creativity as an expressive outlet that breaks through the barriers of his trauma. In a critical moment in Georgie’s healing, he allows Timothy to see his scarred back and, for the first time, tells the truth about his abuse and names the abuser. Though the moment briefly triggers Georgie’s fear of retribution from his mother or Steve, safe in Timothy’s trust, speaking his truth aloud liberates Georgie from his pain. Once Georgie moves out of survival mode, he can access empathy, which helps him see that Mrs. Harper is also a trauma survivor. Through Georgie’s experiences, the novel investigates the destructive effects of abuse on a child’s emotional and psychological well-being, as well as the transformational power of love and friendship in overcoming trauma.