Self-Perception

Self-Perception plays a large role in Pictures of Hollis Woods because Hollis' drama would not have occurred had she possessed higher self-esteem. This begins to be evident in the first chapter when Hollis explains that she does not look at the mustard woman because she does not want anyone to see into her soul, indicating that she does not approve of what they would see. After reminiscing about how the Old Man and Steven taught her how to fish in Third Picture, Hollis asks "why did I have to mess everything up" (p. 29), which shows that she blames herself for what went wrong with the Regan family. In chapter three, Hollis admits that she does not like to look at her reflection in the mirror because if she does not see her scar from the accident on Old Man's Mountain, she can pretend it never happened. Her desire...