Themes in Educated by Tara Westover

Educated by Tara Westover is a memoir that explores various aspects of life, including family dynamics, personal growth, and mental health. In this article, we will discuss these themes based on information from the book.

Family Dynamics

The author's immediate family plays a significant role in shaping her perspective and experiences throughout the book. Her siblings are portrayed with varying degrees of psychological dysfunction and physical abuse. For instance, one brother, Tyler, becomes a source of both strength and conflict. He becomes her primary confidant and helps her study for college entrance exams, yet he also physically threatens their father when necessary.

Tensions between Tara and her mother escalate significantly over time. She is constantly belittled and sometimes physically harmed by her mother, who refuses to accept that the girls should go to college. The author describes their relationship as one where "my mind became more than my body could bear". This highlights not only the physical but also the emotional trauma experienced within the family dynamics.

Personal Growth

The book follows Tara's journey from living in rural Idaho with no formal education or schooling to eventually pursuing higher education. During this transition, she undergoes significant personal growth. Her initial plan to attend Brigham Young University is overshadowed when she learns about applying for admission tests like the SAT. With guidance from her older brother Tyler and later, help from her teachers, Tara begins to develop a sense of independence and curiosity that leads her further into learning.

Her experiences throughout education reveal a profound thirst for knowledge that might have been stunted had it not been for her determination. Despite facing severe challenges, such as attending classes while suffering from severe anxiety and depression, she perseveres. By overcoming these obstacles, she gains confidence and resilience, ultimately leading her towards graduating summa cum laude from Brigham Young University and then from Cambridge University.

Mental Health

Throughout the book, Westover addresses the mental health implications of being raised in such a restrictive environment. She discusses her traumatic childhood, including physical abuse and constant psychological manipulation. These experiences contribute to her developing complex post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Despite this, she continues to push herself academically even though she struggles with panic attacks and depression. It becomes clear how deeply her past affects her present; she states,"I had never felt right inside my own skin: for years I'd suffered from chronic pain, severe headaches, and visions of ghostly children in the woods surrounding the house".

In conclusion, "Educated" offers a compelling narrative about the transformative power of education amidst challenging circumstances. It reveals how family dynamics can greatly influence personal development and highlights the importance of mental health care after experiencing trauma. Through its exploration of these themes, the memoir provides valuable insights into human resilience and the potential for change.