When is it Right to Feel Guilty?

When is it Right to Feel Guilty?
Ending the Philosophy Unit...? Probably second to last blog post~

According to the book, "Willow", by Julia Hoban, Willow blames herself for the deaths of her parents in a car accident because she was the one driving the car. Even after seven months, she still feels guilty because she believed that she was the root of all the tragedies. She tries to hide her pain by constantly cutting her body. I feel that this is not the right way to solve a long-lasting problem. Why can't people think about the consequences before they make a decision? Why do people, especial young teens, always choose to hide their emotions away and not discuss their issues with someone they trust? Does keeping secrets always result in a good ending? When is it right to feel guilty and when it is right to let it go?

Willow in the story starts cutting herself with a razor after she accidentally caused her parents to die. She believes that it's all fault for everything and that her older brother hates her for what she had done. I don't think this is necessary because like I've mentioned, it was an accident. An accident is "an undesirable or unfortunate happening that occurs unintentionally and usually results in harm, injury, damage, or loss". Willow had no intention in really killing her mom and dad. She could have died too if she wasn't too lucky and so if that did happen, who would then take the blame? Willow blames herself because she was the one driving the car but it was actually the car's problem, not hers. She's not guilty until proven so. The accident occurred naturally, not on purpose. And yet, she chose to cut herself to make herself "stronger". If it was the other way around and her parents were driving while she was sitting in the back seat, then would they have to take the blame if they got into a car accident causing Willow to die?

I feel that she should think about the consequences before she make a choice. Why would she choose to cut herself? There are many other better tortures she could have done to herself like eat a bunch of deserts, run a long marathon, get into a college, or something else that she could do to get her mind off of the accident. Just get over it! Hurting your body only creates more problems, it doesn't do anything to solve it. Really, young teens should try to free their minds by talking to adults that they are comfortable with and discuss their issues and have them make advices. Kids tend to think they know everything which is not true. They still need help with adults because of their lack of experience. Keeping secrets can sometimes lead to bad consequences. If she hadn't talk about her issues to somebody else and continue to take the blame, she might have ended up committing suicide and just die off like her parents.

In conclusion, I feel that Willow should try to let everything go and just think about what is happening in the future. Looking back will only may her trip even more. It's no longer alright to blame yourself when you're not the one at fault. Luckily, she gets help at the end and stops cutting herself. In real life, when students face a difficult problem that they cannot fix by themselves, they may choose to talk to their parents, guidance counselor, and their friends. Unfortunately Willow is left without her parents and her dark personality has cost her many friends but she could have still talked to her guidance counselor first before trying to solve her emotional trauma by herself. Finding help can do more good than harm.