Confusion and Chaos Concerning Identity

William Shakespeare’s play “Twelfth Night,” and particularly Acts three, four and five – are all about mistaken identity and confusion. Most prominently, Viola is posing as a man, to become close to the Duke, Orsino. Things are complicated when Orsino’s love, Olivia, falls in love with Viola (dressed as a boy – Cesario). Malvolio is also tricked into believing that Olivia loves him. When Viola’s twin brother Sebastian resurfaces, the situation becomes even more confusing when people mistake him for his “sister.” The play is utter chaos, until everyone’s true identity and motives were revealed in the end.

This evening, I attended a lecture and movie on Child Abuse and Neglect. The main speaker, a woman named Tracy, was from a Catholic Children’s Services Organization. Child abuse is a prominent issue in our society, and something we must not forget about. It was very interesting to hear first hand what the procedures for these terrible situations are. It was also a good reminder for us as college students to hear of what happens to these innocent victims, and how many are following the will of Jesus to help them. She began by telling us that if we ever see anything resembling abuse, to contact the proper authorities. It is best to “air on the side of caution” if one is unsure whether or not a child is being abused just in case, and then Social Services will determine whether it is necessary for them to step in.

Tracy proceeded to discuss about the procedures that the Department of Social Services follows, and what happens throughout cases of child abuse and neglect. She stressed how important it is for workers to remain neutral, and always show the family respect; the child is still a part of the family and defensive of them regardless of how much he/she has been hurt by them. It is also key to be aware that every family raises their children differently, comes from different cultures and various circumstances; there are NO cookie cutter families for which abuse is reported. When children enter the “system,” and cannot be immediately adopted, there are three options: foster care, group homes, and a last resort – residential treatment programs. But even foster families are a final option; it is always best to keep the child/children out of the system, and with a family member when possible.

It was heart-wrenching to hear how many children are actually lost within the system, disrupted from their schools, angry, depressed, and malnourished. Drugs and substance abuse is often prevalent in families with child abuse, and is also commonly a cycle within these families that seems impossible to be broken. It was shocking for me to hear that the average age for children to begin abusing drugs and alcohol is age eight! These substances numb them to the situations around them, and help them get through their days. Social services usually tries to keep siblings together whenever possible, to make things as smooth as possible for the children. Often, the oldest child (no matter how young, even as young as five) will take on the parental role of making sure his/her younger siblings are fed, changed and clean. It sounds crazy to think that a five year old could act as parent, but the human mind adapts to every situation. The social worker must then wean the older child back to being a “kid.”

If the child is taken out, it is necessary to try and repair and rebuild the family, and teach the parents parenting skills. If the parents do not make an effort, their parental rights are taken away. Tracy herself was a foster mother, and she noticed that a child who has been taken away from his/her mother is constantly seeking a motherly figure, and also has extreme difficulty finding his true self.

After Tracy was finished speaking, we were shown clips of the Denzel Washington movie: “Antwone Fisher.” The movie is about a young man in the American Navy, who is attending therapy sessions with Denzel Washington’s character. As a child, the man (Antwone Fisher) was an orphan from birth, lived in foster homes, and was continuously beaten and abused. His progress of barely admitting his past to finally making peace with it was traced throughout the movie. Denzel Washington’s encouragement of Antwone reflects the Jesuit ideals. He saw a person who was silently crying out for help, and devoted himself to coming to his rescue. It definitely changed the boy’s life, and set him free of his past.

This lecture related the “Twelfth Night” because children who are abused and neglectd are often extremely confused and have a great deal of difficulty finding their true selves. Even though the two situations are obviously very different, this sense of not knowing and utter confusion are in common. The event also relates to Jesuit education because it brings awareness of those less fortunate than us. We as Catholics are reminded of their difficult lives, and therefore invited to do anything we can to help them.