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    Elizabeth Smart's autobiography "My Story" recounts her nine-month abduction at age 14 by Brian David Mitchell and Wanda Barzee. Smart recalls how Mitchell broke into her home and took her to a remote camp, where he repeatedly raped her and claimed her as his second wife. Over the following months, Smart's identity changed as she was brainwashed by her captors. Though Mitchell claimed to be following God's orders, the book leaves the major question unanswered of why Mitchell and Barzee committed such crimes. Smart's story conveys her immense strength and courage during the ordeal, as well as a variety of emotions.

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    Elizabeth Smart's autobiography "My Story" recounts her nine-month abduction at age 14 by Brian David Mitchell and Wanda Barzee. Smart recalls how Mitchell broke into her home and took her to a remote camp, where he repeatedly raped her and claimed her as his second wife. Over the following months, Smart's identity changed as she was brainwashed by her captors. Though Mitchell claimed to be following God's orders, the book leaves the major question unanswered of why Mitchell and Barzee committed such crimes. Smart's story conveys her immense strength and courage during the ordeal, as well as a variety of emotions.

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    5 views3 pages

    Readonsummary 4

    Uploaded by

    api-281838327
    Elizabeth Smart's autobiography "My Story" recounts her nine-month abduction at age 14 by Brian David Mitchell and Wanda Barzee. Smart recalls how Mitchell broke into her home and took her to a remote camp, where he repeatedly raped her and claimed her as his second wife. Over the following months, Smart's identity changed as she was brainwashed by her captors. Though Mitchell claimed to be following God's orders, the book leaves the major question unanswered of why Mitchell and Barzee committed such crimes. Smart's story conveys her immense strength and courage during the ordeal, as well as a variety of emotions.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    of 3

    CassidyTitchenell

    MariaSilva
    Advisory
    May26,2016

    ReadOnSummary4:
    MyStory

    InElizabethSmartsautobiography,
    MyStory,
    aboutherninemonthabduction,she
    recallshertraumaticandemotionalexperienceswithhercaptors.In2002,14yearoldSmartwas
    lyingasleepinherbedroominSaltLakeCity,Utahasshefeltaslightpushandacold,sharp
    bladepressedfirmlyagainstherskin.Afterthreateningherentirefamily,BrianDavidMitchell
    convincedSmarttosilentlyleavethehousewithhim.Inanefforttosaveherfamily,Smartwent
    withMitchellwhereshewastakentoacampinthemountainsmilesfromcivilization.Mitchell
    thencontinouslyrapedandassaultedherinthecampaftermakingherhissecondwife.His
    firstwife,WandaBaree,willinglyacceptedMitchellsdecisionandhelpedhimcommita
    numberofcrimesbecausetheybelievedthattheywereprophetsofGod.Usingreligiontojustify
    hisactions,Mitchellfounditacceptabletosteal,rape,preach,anddowhateverheneededtodo
    tosurviveandprovideforhiswives.Overthecourseofninemonths,Mitchell,Barzee,and
    SmartmovedfromSaltLakeCitytoCaliforniaandbacktoSaltLakeCitywheretheywere
    finallyquestionedandcaughtbythepoliceforadolescentabduction.
    Onethemethroughoutthisnovelisidentity.Atthebeginningofthebookandpriorto
    beingabductedSmarthadastrongsenseofselfidentify.Sheidentifiesherselfasayoung,pure
    Mormongirl,daughter,andfriend.However,asshespendsmoretimewithMitchellandBarzee,
    shestartstobecomebrainwashed.Herideasonlifechangeherfromayouthfulteentoaskittish
    rapevictim,ultimatelychangingwhoshewas.Additionally,Smartsidentitychangedinthis

    novelbecauseinthemomentsthathercaptorsweregoingtobecaughtbythepolice,shecould
    notfindthewordstoexplaintothepoliceofficerswhoshewas.Fearhadbeencontrollingher
    forsolongatthatpointthatherownwillwasovershadowed.Afterapersistentstruggle,Smart
    wasabletotellthequestioningofficers,IamElizabeth,signifyingherrecognitioninherold
    self,(275).AsthestoryofSmartsabductioncontinues,oneisabletorecognizethedrastic,
    physicalandmentalchangessheencountersthatplayahugeroleinchangingheridentity.
    AmajorquestionthatthisnovelleavesunanswerediswhydidBarzeeandMitchelldo
    whattheydid?DespiteknowingthattheywerefollowingGodsorders,whydidtheyfeelthe
    needtoabduct,rape,andstarveElizabethSmart?Throughoutthecourseofthenovel,Mitchell
    continuestoclaim,IamHis[Gods]prophet,Esther,hismouthpiecehereonEarth.WhenHe
    commands,Imustobey,(146).MitchellcontinuedtouseGodasanexcuseforhisactions
    whichincludedraping,stealing,drinking,andmore,andlaterclaimedthathewascrazywitha
    numberofdifferentpsychiatricissues.Itjustseemsthattherewasalwaysanexcuseastowhyhe
    claimedtodosomething,yetneveraclearanswerthatdepictedandsupportedthem.
    Overall,
    MyStory
    isquiteaneasyreadwithanincrediblypowerfulmessage.The
    vocabularyandwritingstylearentdifficulttofollow,however,themessageandsensitive
    contentwithinthebookmaynotsuitimmatureaudiences.Smartsreflectiononhertimewithher
    captorssignifiesthestrengthandcouragethatoneisabletohaveduringatimeofdespairand
    hostility.Despitebeingconstantlysexuallyassaulted,starved,andtreatedlikeananimal,Smart
    wasabletomaintainasenseofherbeliefinGod,herself,andherfutureasshepersistedthrough
    tosurvive.Iwouldrecommendthisnoveltothosepreparedforanemotionalandcompletely

    differentperspectiveonlifeasitconveysawidevarietyofemotionswhileexpressingthetragic
    experienceSmartwasforcedtoendure.

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