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kidnapping of multiple girls. Colin (Clover), an unsuspecting kidnapper, is obsessed with finding
his perfect flowers. Lily (Summer), Rose (Shannen), Poppy (Becca), and Violet (Jennifer) only
cooperate for survival. These girls not only lost their names, but their freedom, voices,
expression, and will to live. Throughout this novel, the characters psychological development
When he was a child, Colins father had an affair, and he and his mother actually walked
in on it. This took an effect of Colin because he now thought that girls like the woman his father
slept with were all whores. When his father left, Colin felt neglected and that led to his anger and
violence in his adulthood. Studies show that childhood maltreatment leads to anger in adulthood
(Chen). Colin then only had his mother to look up to, and once she passed away, I think it began
his first stage of obsessive compulsive disorder. This disorder, also known as OCD, is an anxiety
disorder that affects about 3% of our population (Wilhelm). This disorder is characterized by
(Licht, Hull, & Ballantyne). Colin is obsessed with having perfect women; just like his mother.
Size 10, healthy, not whorish, clean, appropriate, and well-mannered. These obsessions
eventually become his entire life, and then he creates his own reality.
Once Colin actually kidnaps his first victim Shannen, this is when he has truly
delusions, hallucinations, and an altered reality (Licht, Hull, & Ballantyne). About 25% of
patients suffering from schizophrenia also suffer from OCD (Faragian, Kurs, & Poyurovsky).
Colin genuinely believes that he is saving these girls when he kidnaps them. Schizophrenia
also leads to symptoms of psychosis. Psychosis is a loss of contact with reality that is severe
and chronic (Licht, Hull, & Ballantyne). He hears his dead mothers voice in his head, telling
him right and wrong. He keeps his entire life hidden from his coworkers, because he doesnt
think they will understand his lifestyle. All of the girls he kidnaps are forced to call him
Clover, and call themselves whatever flower he has chosen for them; Rose, Poppy, Violet, or
Lily. Breakfast is at the same time every morning, and dinner the same time every night; all of
the cooking expected for him. The girls are allowed to read, watch movies, and knit. In his mind,
everything he is doing is right, and he only thinks about what is best for his flowers.
Throughout this novel, Colin commits multiple murders. He believes that he is doing
good for the world because these whores are now gone. This is an effect of when his dad
cheated on his mother. In reality, Colin would be classified as insane. Insanity is a legal
determination of the degree to which a person is responsible for his criminal behaviors (Licht,
Hull, & Ballantyne). Not only does Colin lead these women into thinking that he will sleep with
them, but he brings them into the basement to murder them in front of the flowers. He is trying
to show them that this is what whores deserve. He then forces the flowers to clean up the
body, and any fluids that came with it. He is abnormally disgusted by dirt and doesnt allow it
When Summer and the other girls are found, they have all experienced some form of
PTSD. PTSD, also known as Posttraumatic Stress Disorder is a disorder when a person must be
exposed or threatened by an event involving death, serious injury, or some form of sexual
violence (Licht, Hull, & Ballantyne). People with PTSD experience nightmares, flashbacks,
depression, grief, and anxiety (Licht, Hull, & Ballantyne). Rose (Shannen) was in the basement
the longest and experienced the most trauma. Rose, Poppy, and Violet were all raped by Colin
multiple times. All four girls witnessed several murders, and they were beaten if they didnt
conform to Colins rules. Once out of the basement, Summer had a hard time being touched in