I Never Promised You a Rose Garden

How was Deborah’s mental health condition influenced and shaped by her early experiences of antisemitism, medical abuse, and the expectations of her extended family? In your opinion, does the text suggest that Deborah would have been fine without these experiences, or will Deborah need to work with her mental health condition all of her life? Support your claims.

Why are Connection and Communication such an important aspect of Deborah’s journey of self-discovery and healing? How does she slowly break through into the world of the living through her relationship with Carla and through her relationship with Dr. Fried?

What does each part of the world of Yr and the Collect in Deborah’s mind symbolize? Where do the images and metaphors of this world come from, and what does the elaborate nature of this world say about Deborah as a person? What talents does it speak to?

Is the depiction of Deborah’s family sympathetic? Imagine Deborah’s life six months from the closing of the novel. Is her family a large part of her life? Consider these questions by writing a letter as Deborah to her parents and sister in which you update them.

For Deborah specifically, what does she do to fulfill the theme of A Fight for a Life? What is she fighting against, and what is she aiming for? How does this battle progress during her time in the facility? At any points in the novel, did you feel that she would lose her fight? When, if ever, did you know that she would win?

Deborah experiences social stigma both within and outside the facility because she has a mental illness. How are her experiences reflective of a wider societal issue that continues to exist today? Why do you think the fight for personhood has been so long and treacherous for people who have mental illness?

How can the juxtaposition between The Inner World Versus the Outer Reality be expressed through the perspective of Deborah and her world of Yr? What allows Deborah to finally let go of the safety of Yr and risk living? Why did the farewell seem mutual?

Examine Dr. Fried as an alternate guardian figure. What is Dr. Fried’s approach to helping Deborah, and why is it more effective than any approach her parents took?