Characters
Liz Murray- She has always loved her parents no matter what they do and in some situations it hasn't helped her family. Liz matured at a young age because of her parents. Liz never had a relationship with her sister, Lisa, like she wanted. She wanted to be close to her, but Lisa's frustration with Liz on how she never realized what her parent's were doing, allowed them to not build a close relationship. When she got older Liz became lazy and starting cutting school to hang out with friends. Also, hanging with her friends gave her another sense of family when her parents were not there for her. Cutting school to go on "adventures", as she would call them, was a way to blow off steam and let out some of her frustration and sadness. Another way she did this was by working. Liz felt a sense of pride, and responsibility making money for food, and she felt like Lisa was proud with her too. When Jean contracted AIDS, Liz felt shocked because she always thought of her mom as a survivor. This image of her also made her think that she could get through this, if they stayed together as a family. When Jean wanted her to move in with Brick, she was devastated. When Liz stayed with her father, she missed Lisa and her mom and it took a toll on her. She started to skip school more often and stopped working. She felt betrayed when her father signed her over to state's custody and she was placed in a girl's home. However, the girl's home gave her physical needs and girls like her to be around. This helped her realize that she is not the only one struggling and made her feel better about herself. Liz started to go back to school until she met Sam. Liz was very intrigued by her care-free spirit and wanted to be like her. Sam was also an escape for her problems.Through friends of Sam she met Carlos who really cared for her. As her mom was getting noticeably worse, it made her feel like her whole world was falling apart. This made her make the decision to run away with Sam and Carlos. Liz was happy for awhile but then Carlos changed and her relationship with Sam and Carlos fell apart. She ran away from Carlos twice and ended up sleeping at friend's houses, and this made Liz feel embarrassed. When her mom died that is when she started to feel like she needed to do something and be motivated. This is when Liz felt best about herself and her life. This was the first time she was genuinely happy and proud of herself. As she is finishing school and finds out her father is HIV positive she feels like this could be redemption for lost time with her mother. That is why she decided to share an apartment with Lisa and Sam. While she is reconnecting with her family she starts applying to scholarship offers and colleges. This makes her realize that she has come so far and has, as she would say, reached the finish line of many hurdles. During interviews for colleges and the New York Times scholarship she feels some uncertainty. Then she comes to a realization that she has worked hard and nothing can stop her. She is overjoyed when she wins the scholarship offer.
Lisa Murray- As her parents were going through the legal system, before Liz was born, she was in foster care. In affect of this she has high expectations when it comes to family. She expects her parents to do more and to act like they care more. I think in some ways she is right that they do not understand that spending the welfare check on drugs is hurting her physically and emotionally. When they were younger Lisa would pick on Liz to let out frustration and anger against her parents. In addition to get out frustration at Liz for not seeing what their parents are doing. She feels like her parents do not care about her, and they only care about drugs. When Jean was diagnosed with AIDS she was upset and always tried to stay by her side. This is why she was mad at Liz when she left her when she needed her most. If she can stand by her side then she can. When she died and Liz was not there this showed how Liz felt about her family. This was disappointing because Liz was always there and then leaves without telling her why. I think when they start talking again years later, and make a deal to share an apartment while Liz goes to school changes her thoughts on Liz because she is actually seeing Liz wanting to go to school and do something with her life. I also think when she plans all the birthday dinners at the diner it shows that Liz still wants to be a part of this family and makes her feel better about when she left years ago.
Jean and Peter-I think they tried to be good parents, but they know that they were not. Obviously they did not have any idea what was going on when they were on drugs and it affected their parenting. They wanted to raise their kids to not have the life they have, but because of the life they have, it did not work as they wanted it to. Their kids ended up not using drugs and making bad decisions but they would not go to school or ran away. They deeply cared for Lisa and Liz but they did not know how to show it. Both of them were so troubled by their own problems from their past they could not recognize the problems they were creating. In addition I think their childhood's influenced how they parented. They were not abusive, and did not push their children to do anything. I think when Jean was dying in the hospital she was very upset that Liz was not there for her. Although she seemed to understand because she was now realizing that troubles she has created for her. When Jean died it affected Peter as much as Lisa and Liz. He felt that now his family was over because she was gone and they had all grown apart. I also think that when he signed Liz's custody to the state he did it because he loved her so much that he needed for her to be in a better place, even though it might not be with him.
Liz Murray- She has always loved her parents no matter what they do and in some situations it hasn't helped her family. Liz matured at a young age because of her parents. Liz never had a relationship with her sister, Lisa, like she wanted. She wanted to be close to her, but Lisa's frustration with Liz on how she never realized what her parent's were doing, allowed them to not build a close relationship. When she got older Liz became lazy and starting cutting school to hang out with friends. Also, hanging with her friends gave her another sense of family when her parents were not there for her. Cutting school to go on "adventures", as she would call them, was a way to blow off steam and let out some of her frustration and sadness. Another way she did this was by working. Liz felt a sense of pride, and responsibility making money for food, and she felt like Lisa was proud with her too. When Jean contracted AIDS, Liz felt shocked because she always thought of her mom as a survivor. This image of her also made her think that she could get through this, if they stayed together as a family. When Jean wanted her to move in with Brick, she was devastated. When Liz stayed with her father, she missed Lisa and her mom and it took a toll on her. She started to skip school more often and stopped working. She felt betrayed when her father signed her over to state's custody and she was placed in a girl's home. However, the girl's home gave her physical needs and girls like her to be around. This helped her realize that she is not the only one struggling and made her feel better about herself. Liz started to go back to school until she met Sam. Liz was very intrigued by her care-free spirit and wanted to be like her. Sam was also an escape for her problems.Through friends of Sam she met Carlos who really cared for her. As her mom was getting noticeably worse, it made her feel like her whole world was falling apart. This made her make the decision to run away with Sam and Carlos. Liz was happy for awhile but then Carlos changed and her relationship with Sam and Carlos fell apart. She ran away from Carlos twice and ended up sleeping at friend's houses, and this made Liz feel embarrassed. When her mom died that is when she started to feel like she needed to do something and be motivated. This is when Liz felt best about herself and her life. This was the first time she was genuinely happy and proud of herself. As she is finishing school and finds out her father is HIV positive she feels like this could be redemption for lost time with her mother. That is why she decided to share an apartment with Lisa and Sam. While she is reconnecting with her family she starts applying to scholarship offers and colleges. This makes her realize that she has come so far and has, as she would say, reached the finish line of many hurdles. During interviews for colleges and the New York Times scholarship she feels some uncertainty. Then she comes to a realization that she has worked hard and nothing can stop her. She is overjoyed when she wins the scholarship offer.
Lisa Murray- As her parents were going through the legal system, before Liz was born, she was in foster care. In affect of this she has high expectations when it comes to family. She expects her parents to do more and to act like they care more. I think in some ways she is right that they do not understand that spending the welfare check on drugs is hurting her physically and emotionally. When they were younger Lisa would pick on Liz to let out frustration and anger against her parents. In addition to get out frustration at Liz for not seeing what their parents are doing. She feels like her parents do not care about her, and they only care about drugs. When Jean was diagnosed with AIDS she was upset and always tried to stay by her side. This is why she was mad at Liz when she left her when she needed her most. If she can stand by her side then she can. When she died and Liz was not there this showed how Liz felt about her family. This was disappointing because Liz was always there and then leaves without telling her why. I think when they start talking again years later, and make a deal to share an apartment while Liz goes to school changes her thoughts on Liz because she is actually seeing Liz wanting to go to school and do something with her life. I also think when she plans all the birthday dinners at the diner it shows that Liz still wants to be a part of this family and makes her feel better about when she left years ago.
Jean and Peter-I think they tried to be good parents, but they know that they were not. Obviously they did not have any idea what was going on when they were on drugs and it affected their parenting. They wanted to raise their kids to not have the life they have, but because of the life they have, it did not work as they wanted it to. Their kids ended up not using drugs and making bad decisions but they would not go to school or ran away. They deeply cared for Lisa and Liz but they did not know how to show it. Both of them were so troubled by their own problems from their past they could not recognize the problems they were creating. In addition I think their childhood's influenced how they parented. They were not abusive, and did not push their children to do anything. I think when Jean was dying in the hospital she was very upset that Liz was not there for her. Although she seemed to understand because she was now realizing that troubles she has created for her. When Jean died it affected Peter as much as Lisa and Liz. He felt that now his family was over because she was gone and they had all grown apart. I also think that when he signed Liz's custody to the state he did it because he loved her so much that he needed for her to be in a better place, even though it might not be with him.