Dave Pelzer Research Paper

717 Words2 Pages

March 5, 1973 started out as another horrible day for Dave Pelzer, his mother screaming at him to begin his chores. Dave was no ordinary child, he was abused horrifically by his mother. On this same day he was released from the clutches of his mother into police custody. Dave then uttered the words “Im free?” (pg 14) in displief that he was free from the evil in his life. This quote in the book shows how life altering his mother’s anger was on Dave. High levels of child abuse occur every year and have had mental and emotional effects on children, this essay is going to argue how cruel and life altering child abuse is. Foster Homes have saved children from child abuse for years, more than 6.6 million children suffer from child abuse each year.
Dave was emotionally and physically abused by his mother, and he was scarred by her hatred. The Joseph’s started out as a perfect “Brady Bunch” family, but one day Dave’s mother started to take out her anger all on him. Dave Pelzer explains that he never understood why “All I could think of was “Why?” she treated me the way she did.” (pg 106). This …show more content…

Dave states his father's words of neglect in the chapter The Accident “Well….you ah…….you better go back in there and do the dishes.” (pg 90) This quote shows the neglect Dave’s father portrayed after Dave told him he was stabbed by his mother, it proves that child abuse can affect the whole family. Alcohol can also increase the chances of child abuse occuring in a home, this is proven in chapter 2 when Dave state's, “Mom got up only to go to the bathroom, get another drink or heat left over food.” (pg 30) When Dave’s mother began to drink she began to beat her son. Dave always thought he was in the wrong and that he was always a “bad boy”. Child abuse puts a child to the point where they feel alone and want to end their own life, and no child should feel that

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