Summary
In this new section of the book, Jane begins by talking about how, as she got older, she was given a bit more freedom. Including, one night, she was allowed to attend a party, and in this party she met a new guy named Joe. She started a relationship with him, and after about three months of dating, they slept together(pg.131). Richard was nice about her being with him, but he didn't know that she had slept with Joe. Richard still messed around with Jane, only in ways that would humiliate Joe(pg.132). After a while though, Richard kept asking Jane if she had already slept with Joe, and after she was on the floor with him holding her by the throat, and she had to confess. She provides an important detail, that being that no matter what way Richard abused of her, he had never "penetrated her"(pg.134). Richard's response to her confession, though, was surprising. He told her that now that she had slept with Joe, she would have to be doing it with him as well, claiming that it would be the same as with Joe. Jane then goes on to mention the horrible experience she had, and how she would have to keep doing it. It got worse when her mother got a job helping out as a secretary at a boxng club her brothers attended, and she would be stuck with him alone once she returned from work(pg.138).
In the next chapter that follows, Jane talks about she went out with Paul after Joel, and how Richard would continue to play the game of being friendly, welcoming him to live with them, but then not wanting to see him when he wasn't in the mood. One day, while Jane and Paul were still asleep in her room, Richard came into her room, threw away her birth control pills, and told her that she needed to make him a granddad. Even though she tried not to show her happiness, she truly was excited, and she developed the idea that if she became pregnant, she would get an escape from Richard(pgs.144-145). She continued to try and have a baby with Paul for about three months, while when with Richard, he used a condom. At that third month, she became pregnant, but it turned out to be worse for her because Richard decided that now that she was pregnant, he wouldn't need to use condoms anymore. Even as her stomach got bigger, Richard still wanted to be with her. After she gave birth to her baby, which she named Emma, Richard was really affectionate with the baby, and Jane's mother signed a letter for her to move out the house, which Richard didn't get upset about it. But, as usual, this meant he would figure out where she would be living, so he could continue to torment her.
In the last few or so pages left of what was read, Jane talked about how she had to break up with Paul, she met Steve. and fell in love again. She also mentioned how she stood up to Richard, saying no to him when he came once to picking up Emma, and how because of this, Richard practically kidnapped Emma. In the last chapter read, Jane explains how she had to tell Steve the truth about Richard. After he found out, he was in shock, he decided they needed to move to a different place, and she talked about the difficult transition it was for her to get accustomed to having freedom, and how she was still terrified because her thoughts tormented her.
Quote
"Although I was now physically free of Richard, I was still suffering mentally from everything that had happened before, as well as from the ever-present fear that he would track me down and turn up on the doorstep"(Elliott 199).
Reaction
In this summary, the author endures more mental and emotional pain as she continues to recall how her life kept falling apart under the hands of Richard. The only moments of joy she had were when she had Emma and the times she fell in love. She seems to be reliving everything as if she were there all over again, explaining everything that she felt, and what was going on in her mind. But, in this summary, she finally decided to take a stand and control her life. She needed to do what was best for her daughter and for herself, and she needed to place Richard in the place where he belonged, which was jail.
This quote is important to understand because it shows the mental and emotional abuse she underwent, and the damage it has done on her. It shows that even if she was physically free from Richard, the scars he left will never quite heal completely. It also shows that he will always have control of her, because she will live in fear for practically the rest of her life. He has made her paranoid and the damage that he has made might even spread through her daughters and other people. This quote shows how she needs help from somebody before she decides to do something that will not benefit anybody, or before she falls apart completely.
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