The autobiographical narrative, A Child Called It by Dave...

The autobiographical narrative, A Child Called It by Dave Pelzer recounts the harrowing abuse he endured at the hands of a figure that should represent security and comfort-his mother. Between the ages of 4-12 Pelzer suffered mental, physical and emotional torment from his alcoholic mother, ostracizing him from his family. A dwelling that should symbolize a sanctuary for an innocent child instead became an abusive containment facility. In documenting the raw images of his scarred past, Pelzer was able to fabricate a face to an otherwise silent evil. He also represented those who experienced similar situations of anguish and despair. His ordeal embodied the ability of the human spirit to endure to its breaking point, but still†¦show more content†¦This is the foundation for his argument and the pivotal component in establishing his credibility. In his early years of captivity, Pelzer had the imagination, dreams, and hopes of an innocent child. This paved the way for his eve ntual release and future success’s he was able to accomplish. Throughout the narrative, food was represented as a metaphor for power. The internal and external conflict surrounding Pelzer and his mother was primarily around food and Pelzer’s ability to acquire some or not. In chapter 4, â€Å"The Fight for Food†, Pelzer describes his struggle to obtain and retain food. Mother established her sense of daunting authority and supremacy by controlling every morsel of food Pelzer had, many times refusing to feed him in order to justify the cruelty she condoned upon him. â€Å"On weekends, to punish me for my thefts, Mother refused to feed me† (p.49). Ironically Pelzer was able to weaken Mother’s seemingly stable sense of command through the same outlet. Whenever he was able to outsmart mother, Pelzer implied that he felt a sense of clout and control over his situation. â€Å"As I held a piece of frozen pumpkin pie crust or a bit of a taco shell, I w as the king, and like a king on his throne, I gazed down on my food and smiled† (p. 79). Pelzer’s few victories in â€Å"The Fight for Food† foreshadowed his eventual escape from the tightening grasp of his mother, lending credence to his argument of hope during times of