Tara
The society that is portrayed in Educated by Tara Westover is one that is full of social issues. Some of the social issues that are experienced in this society include poverty, education, mental health, lack of resources, health care, and other issues such as gun control. Of all the many issues affecting Tara Westover, mental health supersedes them.
Tara recounts her experience growing up a s possibly one of the worst ordeal. Nothing seemed to work for Tara and this troubled her a lot mentally. She knew no peace, love, and basic human needs growing up that she had given up on life. As opposed to many children who are raised in proper families with love, care, and support; Tara was raised on survival. Tara’s path is more of an escape from her reality rather than a memoir. She recounts the moments she wished of a better life that was not full of trials and tribulations. To Tara, Mormon was not a place she grew up, she did not even affiliate it with home. Tara considered Mormon as a place she needed to escape. Therefore, it is correct to say that the place drained so much of her mental peace.
Right at birth, Tara Westover was not a legal person. Westover did not have any proof of birth until she was nine when she first got her birth certificate. No medical records were in Tara’s name because her father did not believe in medicine and doctors. Time was not kind to her either. Westover admits that as sghe grew up, her father’s beliefs only worsened and her brothers became more violent. With no one to tend to her needs, Westover led a very lonely and disturbed life that she felt the only way out was through education. However, as much as Westover’s dreams were valid and sensible, there was no one to see them through. The grandmother often pointed the need for the children to be in school but no one ever did anything about it. At her age, the grandmother was not in a position to do anything either. They argued daily, about the mess from thejunkyard but more often about us kids. Grandmathought we should be in school and not, as she”put it, “roaming the mountain like savages.”(Page 34 & 35)
Tara Westover’s father played a part in worsening the situation. Instead of helping her daughter achieve the mental peace she was seeking, he disappointed her further. The dad insisted that there was no need for education as it was a ploy to lead the children further away from God. (Page 35) Sara Westover did not have enlightened friends growing up and that made her live a very isolated childhood. She recounts that her friends were children from families just like hers. Friends who did not believe in education of medicine. The first time that she made a friend who was learning, was when she was thirteen. Tara’s lack of knowledge and education did not sit well with her and it often made her feel inferior. At one moment, she admits that she did not put up with a friend because she had been teased about not knowing what a fraction was.
Finally, Tara’s disturbed mental health can be attributed to the antagonistic nature of her parents. Whereas the father was a firm believer of God, the mother was an unlicensed midwife who had some healing education. The two did not see eye to eye and this conflicted Tara Westover on who to believe and follow.