When Sybil encounters broken glass, it recalls two prominent and traumatic memories that provoke Peggy Lou to take over the body. Peggy Lou, the angry personality, is the one who bears the trauma of the memories of broken glass. Broken glass symbolically represents one of the central themes of Hattie’s abuses, a constant attribution of blame, guilt, and fault, as well as Sybil’s repressed and overpowering rage at being falsely accused. The first memory associated with broken glass takes place in the summer of 1927, when Sybil, enjoying a respite from abuse while the Dorsetts stay with Hattie’s family, is accused of throwing a fancy pickle dish through the French doors that lead to the room where the adults are all sitting. Sybil’s cousin Lulu throws the dish and then blames Sybil. When all the adults rush into the room to see what happened, Hattie accuses Sybil of being at fault. Sybil is traumatically reminded of this first accusation when, a few years later, her mother finds her at the town pharmacy. Sybil is in the back, and the kind pharmacist is showing her his violin collection, promising that one day he will make one for her. Hattie calls Sybil to stand next to her while she pays for a medication.

Broken Glass

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Nonfiction

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Memoir

Health & Wellness

Mental Illness

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Flora Rheta Schreiber

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Sybil

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