Claire Thompson
In the film Girl, Interrupted, Daisy hides old chicken dinners under her bed. Daisy is a seasonal visitor to the psychiatric hospital where the film is set. She checks herself in at Thanksgiving and leaves before Christmas. Her father brings her a whole rotisserie chicken every few days, and she hides the remains under her bed. Daisy's relationship with her father is disturbing and possibly incestuous. She also struggles with self-harm, eating disorders, and depression. Various interpretations of the chicken exist, including that it represents a tally of violence, a symbol of her alienation from society, or a metaphor for oral sex.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason for hiding chicken | Hides the fact that she only eats her father's chicken, which is a metaphor for oral sex and a symbol of her sexual abuse |
| Hiding spot | Under her bed |
| Mental disorders | Seasonal visitor to McLean, eating disorder, depression, Bulimia Nervosa, possible incest relations with her father, suicide |
| Chicken as a symbol | Skeletons in the closet |
| Laxatives | Used to help her pass the enormous amounts of chicken she consumes |
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What You'll Learn
Daisy's relationship with her father
Daisy's father is implied to be sexually abusing her, and each chicken he brings is associated with an encounter of abuse. The chickens are her skeletons in the closet, hidden under her bed, and the smell of the rotting carcasses signals something unhealthy and disturbing. Daisy's eating disorder and constipation are a result of consuming large amounts of meat, and she refuses to eat any other food, even vomiting if she does. Her father's visits are also suspicious, as she closes the door when he comes, and he stays overnight, using her bedroom bathroom.
Daisy's dressing style is also notably outdated, as if she's dressing to please her father, and she keeps her figurines facing away when he leaves, a sign of inviting boys into her room. Daisy might be seeking love and attention from her father but in a very wrong and inappropriate way. Her relationship with him is reflected in her "chicken issue," and she understands that such incestuous relations are not accepted by society, leading to her alienation and depression.
The dynamic between Daisy and her father is a crucial aspect of her character and mental health struggles in the film, and it contributes to her tragic end.
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Daisy's eating disorder
Additionally, Daisy's eating disorder could be a form of control and a way to exert power in a situation where she feels powerless, especially considering her history of self-harm and possible sexual abuse by her father. The ritual of hoarding the chicken carcasses under her bed may provide her with a sense of order and dominance, even if only in her personal space.
Furthermore, Daisy's eating disorder could be a manifestation of her troubled relationship with her body image and weight. Her statement about vomiting if she consumes any food other than chicken suggests a distorted view of eating and a desire to maintain control over her physical appearance.
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Daisy's mental health
Daisy exhibits signs of alienation and an inability to form healthy social connections. She avoids social contact, and her only attachment figure appears to be her father, with whom she has an inappropriate and potentially incestuous relationship. This is reflected in her obsession with the chicken he brings her, which has been interpreted as a metaphor for oral sex, and a symbol of the abuse she suffers. Daisy's hoarding of the chicken carcasses under her bed could be a way to keep a “tally” of the violence she experiences, with the rotting remains signalling something unhealthy and disturbing.
Daisy's eating habits also point to a possible eating disorder. She is addicted to laxatives, which she uses to manage the constipation caused by her diet of mostly chicken. This, along with her statement that she “throws up” if she eats anything else, suggests Bulimia Nervosa. Additionally, Daisy's weight issues and obsession with the chicken her father brings may indicate Binge Eating Disorder.
Overall, Daisy's mental health is a tragic portrayal of a young woman struggling with depression, eating disorders, self-harm, and the trauma of abuse. Her story highlights the devastating consequences of unaddressed mental health issues and the violation of societal norms.
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Daisy's social alienation
Daisy's alienation is also linked to her complicated relationship with her father, which may involve incest and sexual abuse. This inappropriate relationship is reflected in her obsession with the chicken he brings her, which could be a metaphor for oral sex and a symbol of her skeletons in the closet. Daisy's father is the only person she cares about, and she struggles with social relations, exhibiting symptoms of depression and low self-esteem.
Daisy's eating disorder further contributes to her social alienation. She demands laxatives from the nurses daily, indicating that she understands the need to counteract the effects of consuming large amounts of meat. However, she can never get enough, and her room smells from the rotting chicken remains, which she hides under her bed. This could be an unconscious way of signalling that something unhealthy is happening.
Daisy's alienation is also reflected in her choice of clothing, as she dresses majorly out of date, resembling someone from the 50s rather than the late 60s when the book is set. This could be an attempt to dress to please her father, further highlighting her alienation from societal norms and her preoccupation with her father.
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Daisy's suicide
In the lead-up to her suicide, Daisy exhibits a pattern of secretive behaviour and ritualistic actions. She hides the chicken carcasses under her bed, a disturbing collection that serves as a metaphor for her hidden pain and trauma. The chicken is linked to her father, who brings it to her during his visits, and it becomes a symbol of their disturbing and possibly incestuous relationship. Daisy's obsession with the chicken and her eating disorder, possibly Bulimia Nervosa, further highlight her need for control and her struggle with emotional regulation.
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Frequently asked questions
Daisy, a character in the film Girl, Interrupted, hides chicken under her bed because she is ashamed of her compulsive eating of chicken, which is linked to her father.
The chicken is thought to represent Daisy's unhealthy relationship with her father, who brings her chicken. It is suggested that the chicken is a metaphor for oral sex.
Daisy's father brings her chicken and it is suggested that they have an inappropriate, incestuous relationship. Daisy's father is thought to be abusive and stays in her room when he visits.
Yes, Daisy is thought to have Bulimia Nervosa, due to her compulsive eating and use of laxatives.
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