Go Ask Alice Anonymous

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Characters Alice - Alice is the anonymous protagonist (her name is an allusion to a Jefferson Airplane song) whose intermittent diary entries narrate Go Ask Alice. An intelligent, sensitive girl with a literary flair, she experiments with drugs and the counterculture to escape from her low self-esteem and consuming loneliness. Alice - Alice is the anonymous protagonist (her name is an allusion to a Jefferson Airplane song) whose intermittent diary entries narrate Go Ask Alice. An intelligent, sensitive girl with a literary flair, she experiments with drugs and the counterculture to escape from her low self-esteem and consuming loneliness.

Characters Parents - Alice's unnamed father (a professor) and mother (a homemaker) care deeply about their daughter but are unable to communicate with her openly. They lead a traditional upper- middle-class life. Parents - Alice's unnamed father (a professor) and mother (a homemaker) care deeply about their daughter but are unable to communicate with her openly. They lead a traditional upper- middle-class life. Joel - Joel is a working-class freshman at Alice's father's university. His father died when he was young, his mother toils in a factory, and he works as a janitor to pay his tuition. He is gentle in his growing romantic relationship with Alice, spiritual in a non-religious way, and wise about many things, especially loss. Joel - Joel is a working-class freshman at Alice's father's university. His father died when he was young, his mother toils in a factory, and he works as a janitor to pay his tuition. He is gentle in his growing romantic relationship with Alice, spiritual in a non-religious way, and wise about many things, especially loss.

Characters Grandparents - Alice's grandparents are beloved members of the family. Alice spends a summer with them, and they visit on holidays up until their deaths. Grandparents - Alice's grandparents are beloved members of the family. Alice spends a summer with them, and they visit on holidays up until their deaths. Siblings - Alice's younger siblings—Tim and Alexandria—are better adjusted than she is, which sometimes makes her jealous. Tim develops into a mature young man. Siblings - Alice's younger siblings—Tim and Alexandria—are better adjusted than she is, which sometimes makes her jealous. Tim develops into a mature young man.

Characters Chris - Chris accompanies Alice on her journey to San Francisco, and the two girls go on and off drugs together. Chris - Chris accompanies Alice on her journey to San Francisco, and the two girls go on and off drugs together. Roger - Roger is a straight, square boy on whom Alice has an overwhelming crush. He plans to attend military school. Roger - Roger is a straight, square boy on whom Alice has an overwhelming crush. He plans to attend military school. Sheila - Sheila is a sophisticated older woman, into drugs and kinky sex, who gets Chris a job in her hip San Francisco boutique. Sheila - Sheila is a sophisticated older woman, into drugs and kinky sex, who gets Chris a job in her hip San Francisco boutique.

Characters Richie - Richie is Alice's college boyfriend until she leaves home the first time. She sells drugs to help him someday attend medical school. Richie - Richie is Alice's college boyfriend until she leaves home the first time. She sells drugs to help him someday attend medical school. Babbie - Alice meets Babbie, a young former prostitute and drug addict, in the mental hospital Babbie - Alice meets Babbie, a young former prostitute and drug addict, in the mental hospital Beth - Beth is Alice's Jewish neighbor, a nice girl with whom Alice bonds at first but, after Alice's drug use, Alice finds she has changed. Beth - Beth is Alice's Jewish neighbor, a nice girl with whom Alice bonds at first but, after Alice's drug use, Alice finds she has changed.

Characters Mr. Mellani - An affable, fatherly custom jeweler who gives Alice a job. He has a large, robust Italian family Mr. Mellani - An affable, fatherly custom jeweler who gives Alice a job. He has a large, robust Italian family Dr. Miller - The psychiatrist at Alice's mental hospital. He is sympathetic to Alice's case. Dr. Miller - The psychiatrist at Alice's mental hospital. He is sympathetic to Alice's case. Doris - A 14-year-old girl whom Alice meets in Oregon. She has been sexually abused by both her stepfather and foster family siblings. Doris - A 14-year-old girl whom Alice meets in Oregon. She has been sexually abused by both her stepfather and foster family siblings.

Characters Lane - A violent drug user at school who tries to get Alice to get him drugs and later becomes her supplier. Lane - A violent drug user at school who tries to get Alice to get him drugs and later becomes her supplier. Jan - An old drug-using friend of Alice's who threatens Alice when she won't return to her old habits and eventually gets Alice put in the mental hospital. Jan - An old drug-using friend of Alice's who threatens Alice when she won't return to her old habits and eventually gets Alice put in the mental hospital. Fawn - A "straight" girl who befriends Alice at the end of the book and accepts her into her group of non-drug-using friends. Fawn - A "straight" girl who befriends Alice at the end of the book and accepts her into her group of non-drug-using friends.

Characters Greta - An awkward girl Alice initially befriends when she moves into the new town. Greta - An awkward girl Alice initially befriends when she moves into the new town. Ted - Richie's college roommate who has a hidden homosexual relationship with him Ted - Richie's college roommate who has a hidden homosexual relationship with him

Themes Difficulty of Communication-Alice begins her diary because she has no one else to talk to, and she spends her energy searching not for drugs, but for someone who understands her. The drugs only create the temporary illusion that she is in touch with nature and people. Difficulty of Communication-Alice begins her diary because she has no one else to talk to, and she spends her energy searching not for drugs, but for someone who understands her. The drugs only create the temporary illusion that she is in touch with nature and people. Problems of Adolescent Identity-The deeper problem for Alice, though, is the adolescent cliché of not knowing who she is Problems of Adolescent Identity-The deeper problem for Alice, though, is the adolescent cliché of not knowing who she is

Motifs Counterculture and Drugs -The hippie counterculture of drugs, casual sex, and other anti-establishment mores readily seduces Alice, whose discontentment with her middle-class upbringing is strong in the first few sections of the diary and whenever she reverts to drugs Counterculture and Drugs -The hippie counterculture of drugs, casual sex, and other anti-establishment mores readily seduces Alice, whose discontentment with her middle-class upbringing is strong in the first few sections of the diary and whenever she reverts to drugs Sexual Assault-Alice documents several cases of sexual assault, either on her or on others. She and Chris are molested by Sheila and her boyfriend; Alice performs oral sex for drugs; a boy from school threatens to rape her; and both Doris and Babbie have long histories of abuse. Sexual Assault-Alice documents several cases of sexual assault, either on her or on others. She and Chris are molested by Sheila and her boyfriend; Alice performs oral sex for drugs; a boy from school threatens to rape her; and both Doris and Babbie have long histories of abuse.

Symbols Maggots and worms- We can interpret the maggots and worms as all the destructive impulses of society that Alice has internalized into low self-esteem; society is "pushing" her inside the coffin, as it has pushed her into drugs, away from her family, and into a lonely corner at school. Maggots and worms- We can interpret the maggots and worms as all the destructive impulses of society that Alice has internalized into low self-esteem; society is "pushing" her inside the coffin, as it has pushed her into drugs, away from her family, and into a lonely corner at school.

Key Facts Time and place written · late 1960s, The United States Time and place written · late 1960s, The United States Narrator · Alice Narrator · Alice Climax · Alice is freed from the mental hospital and decides to commit her life to staying clean and helping others Climax · Alice is freed from the mental hospital and decides to commit her life to staying clean and helping others Antagonist · Drugs; society as a whole Antagonist · Drugs; society as a whole Setting (time) · Late 1960s Setting (time) · Late 1960s Setting (place) · An unidentified college town; San Francisco/Berkeley; Oregon Setting (place) · An unidentified college town; San Francisco/Berkeley; Oregon

Key Facts Conti… Point of view · Alice's first-person diary entries Point of view · Alice's first-person diary entries Tense · Immediate past tense Tense · Immediate past tense

Background Info. Go Ask Alice is a controversial 1971 book about the life of a troubled teenage girl that is considered a classic of American young adult literature. The book purports to be the actual diary of an anonymous teenage girl who died of a drug overdose in the late 1960s and is therefore presented as a testimony against drug use. Alice is not the protagonist's name; the actual diarist's name is never given in the book. A woman named Alice is mentioned briefly in one entry during the diarist's stay in Denver; she is a fellow addict the diarist meets on the street. Despite this, reviewers generally refer to the diarist as "Alice" for the sake of convenience. Go Ask Alice is a controversial 1971 book about the life of a troubled teenage girl that is considered a classic of American young adult literature. The book purports to be the actual diary of an anonymous teenage girl who died of a drug overdose in the late 1960s and is therefore presented as a testimony against drug use. Alice is not the protagonist's name; the actual diarist's name is never given in the book. A woman named Alice is mentioned briefly in one entry during the diarist's stay in Denver; she is a fellow addict the diarist meets on the street. Despite this, reviewers generally refer to the diarist as "Alice" for the sake of convenience.1971young adult literaturediaryDenver1971young adult literaturediaryDenver

Where did the title come from? The title is from the lyrics to the Jefferson Airplane song "White Rabbit". Grace Slick wrote the song based on perceived drug references in the classic novel Alice In Wonderland. (On July 14 [page 36 of the 2006 edition], the writer says she "feel[s] like Alice in Wonderland" and "maybe Lewis G. Caroll was on drugs too.") The title is from the lyrics to the Jefferson Airplane song "White Rabbit". Grace Slick wrote the song based on perceived drug references in the classic novel Alice In Wonderland. (On July 14 [page 36 of the 2006 edition], the writer says she "feel[s] like Alice in Wonderland" and "maybe Lewis G. Caroll was on drugs too.")Jefferson AirplaneWhite RabbitGrace SlickAlice In WonderlandJefferson AirplaneWhite RabbitGrace SlickAlice In Wonderland

Plot When she begins keeping a journal the diarist, the daughter of a university professor, is an ordinary, insecure, middle-class suburban teenager preoccupied with boys, diets, and popularity. Her fortunes take a sharp turn for the worse when her family moves to a new town and she finds herself less popular and more isolated than ever before. Unhappy in the new town, she is overjoyed to be allowed to return to the old town to spend the summer with her grandparents. When she begins keeping a journal the diarist, the daughter of a university professor, is an ordinary, insecure, middle-class suburban teenager preoccupied with boys, diets, and popularity. Her fortunes take a sharp turn for the worse when her family moves to a new town and she finds herself less popular and more isolated than ever before. Unhappy in the new town, she is overjoyed to be allowed to return to the old town to spend the summer with her grandparents.middle-classsuburbanmiddle-classsuburban

Plot Cont.. During this stay she is invited to a party by an old acquaintance; there she unwittingly ingests LSD that had been added to random bottles of Coca-Cola and distributed to the party guests as a game. The other guests had mistakenly assumed she was aware of what the "game" entailed. After this first unwitting, but pleasurable experience, she seeks drugs deliberately, and rapidly proceeds to marijuana,and amphetamines. She describes her drug experiences intricately; the more extreme the supposed diarist's drug experience, the more sophisticated and descriptive her writing becomes. During this stay she is invited to a party by an old acquaintance; there she unwittingly ingests LSD that had been added to random bottles of Coca-Cola and distributed to the party guests as a game. The other guests had mistakenly assumed she was aware of what the "game" entailed. After this first unwitting, but pleasurable experience, she seeks drugs deliberately, and rapidly proceeds to marijuana,and amphetamines. She describes her drug experiences intricately; the more extreme the supposed diarist's drug experience, the more sophisticated and descriptive her writing becomes.LSDCoca-ColamarijuanaamphetaminesLSDCoca-Colamarijuanaamphetamines

Plot Cont.. A pregnancy scare and the return to her new town encourage her to turn away from drugs; however she soon willingly falls in with the drug crowd where finally she finds acceptance. She starts dating a drug dealer and sells drugs to grade-schoolers for him. After realizing he was using her, she turns him in to the police and runs away from home with her new friend Chris, moving to San Francisco. She opens a boutique with Chris, however she misses her family. After being given heroin and then being raped by Chris' boss, Shelia, and her boyfriend, she and Chris return home. A pregnancy scare and the return to her new town encourage her to turn away from drugs; however she soon willingly falls in with the drug crowd where finally she finds acceptance. She starts dating a drug dealer and sells drugs to grade-schoolers for him. After realizing he was using her, she turns him in to the police and runs away from home with her new friend Chris, moving to San Francisco. She opens a boutique with Chris, however she misses her family. After being given heroin and then being raped by Chris' boss, Shelia, and her boyfriend, she and Chris return home.San FranciscoSan Francisco

Plot Cont… She is welcomed back warmly by her family, but finds herself ostracized by the community and has difficulty keeping her resolve to avoid drugs. She soon weakens and, while high, runs away again. She spends time living on the streets, a period during which her diary is not dated and entries were purportedly recorded on scraps of paper or paper napkins. She finds herself having sexual relations with strangers and loses track of everything, but her fear for her family finally gives her enough courage to ask a priest to help her return home. She is welcomed back warmly by her family, but finds herself ostracized by the community and has difficulty keeping her resolve to avoid drugs. She soon weakens and, while high, runs away again. She spends time living on the streets, a period during which her diary is not dated and entries were purportedly recorded on scraps of paper or paper napkins. She finds herself having sexual relations with strangers and loses track of everything, but her fear for her family finally gives her enough courage to ask a priest to help her return home.

Plot Cont.. When she returns home she vows to stay completely off drugs, and succeeds, even without the support of Chris who has now moved away. However, she is again ostracized by her former friends, who continue to label her a police informant, and is ignored by the "square" kids. She starts a new romance with a student, Joel, at her father's university. When she returns home she vows to stay completely off drugs, and succeeds, even without the support of Chris who has now moved away. However, she is again ostracized by her former friends, who continue to label her a police informant, and is ignored by the "square" kids. She starts a new romance with a student, Joel, at her father's university.

Plot Conti… While babysitting, she is drugged without her knowledge. She has a violent, bad trip, during which a neighbor locks her in the closet, where she badly injures herself trying to claw her way out, and she is committed to a psychiatric hospital. After being released, she returns home, finally happy and over her drug addiction. She gets her life back on track and finally makes the decision to stop keeping a diary. While babysitting, she is drugged without her knowledge. She has a violent, bad trip, during which a neighbor locks her in the closet, where she badly injures herself trying to claw her way out, and she is committed to a psychiatric hospital. After being released, she returns home, finally happy and over her drug addiction. She gets her life back on track and finally makes the decision to stop keeping a diary.

Plot Conti… An editorial note informs readers that three weeks after the last entry, the diarist died of an overdose. Although it is unclear whether the girl's overdose was accidental or premeditated, or what drug or drugs specifically prompted her death, the key issue is that this girl -- whose life the reader has followed in intimate detail -- was just one of the thousands who died because of drugs that year An editorial note informs readers that three weeks after the last entry, the diarist died of an overdose. Although it is unclear whether the girl's overdose was accidental or premeditated, or what drug or drugs specifically prompted her death, the key issue is that this girl -- whose life the reader has followed in intimate detail -- was just one of the thousands who died because of drugs that year