y introduce her lover, Lester lends her a hand: ôHer husband. WeÆve met before, but something tells me youÆre going to remember me this timeö (Mendez, 1999).
Jane Burnham is experiencing the typical seething cauldron of emotions and feelings perpetuated by adolescence. She is unsmiling, insecure and terribly unhappy. Distant from both her father toward who she expresses complete contempt (ôI need a father whoÆs a role model, not some horny geek-boy whoÆs gonna spray his shorts every time I bring home a girlfriendö) and her mother from who she rebels:
Carolyn: Are you trying to look unattractive?
Carolyn: Well, congratulations. YouÆve succeeded admirably.
Jane attempts to fulfill herself outside the family environment through her friends and the odd but genuine next-door neighbor, Ricky Fitts. Despite her efforts, Jane remains trapped in sullen anger.
The Burnham family is suffering from a high degree of emotional diffusion and undifferentiation. Differentiation of the self is the abili
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