#4 Significance of...

Two significant elements:

1.  Cassie's death
2.  The Scale

Cassie's death (in Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson) is significant because it reveals the entire story line.  When she dies it leaves Lia very upset and forces her to think about her past, giving the reader more information that is needed to understand the plot line.  It creates suspense in the story because it doesn't state how Cassie died and it allows the reader to believe that Lia truly knows how Cassie died.  Because of Cassie's death, Lia is making herself "stronger", she forces herself to get Cassie out of her head, but is still using her advice.  She is trying desperately to reach she and Cassie's goal by herself.  "...she called. thirty-three times. you didn't answer. body found in a motel room, alone. you left her alone. should should should have done anythingeverything. you killed her." (Anderson, Wintergirls, pg 97).  These are things going through Lia's mind about Cassie, she can't get her out of her head.

The scale is significant because it is a very large impact to Lia's life.  Using the scale, Lia fools her doctors and family.  She is secretly losing weight and is trying to reach a goal that she and Cassie made.  Cassie's death has slowed down her process and has made it very difficult for Lia, but allows her to move on and pushes harder.  The scale is both Lia's friend and enemy.  She needs it to work for her to she both her actually weight and the weight she lies about.  She needs it to be the friend that she lost.  "because I don't need a muffin (410), I don't want an orange (75) or toast (87), and waffles (180) make me gag." (Anderson, Wintergirls, pg 5)  Lia is thinking about how many calories she will have to try and get rid of if she eats each item.