Autobiography Of A Face

Lucy’s story can be read as a search for acceptance. Where does she look for acceptance, what obstacles does she encounter, and what finally ends her search?

In the book, masks can be seen as representing freedom and anonymity, while mirrors correspond to Lucy’s perception of her appearance. How much do these objects take their symbolic significance from the actions of others?

Lucy’s mother frequently tells her that she must be brave and not cry. Why does she do this and how does it affect Lucy’s emotional life?

When Lucy wears masks on Halloween, she finds herself feeling “bold and free” (127). Why is this experience both liberating and painful for her?

At college, Lucy adopts an “I-don’t-care-I’m-an-artist look” (193) and, later, begins “dressing provocatively” (207). How do both of these choices reflect Lucy’s attitude towards herself, and how she is perceived?

Lucy has a powerful imagination and a rich fantasy life. How do these manifest in both childhood and adulthood, and what does she gain from them?

Immediately after her operation, Lucy does not judge herself when she looks in the mirror. How and why does her outlook change as she grows older?

Lucy experiences many powerful emotions throughout the book but frequently seeks to deny and repress them. What methods does she employ to achieve this and how successful is she?