A Teenage Clique

In Anne Tyler’s short story “Teenage Wasteland,” we find ourselves surrounded in a world populated solely by teenagers. They all vie for positions in an exclusive club of “acceptability.” Daisy, the insecure one, Cal, the influential screw-up, Matt, unsupportive boyfriend, Donny, the lost boy, and Amanda, the forgotten girl are the members of this so-called group. They compete for the love and attention of each other member, which is gained by popularity. The group or family is missing a parent. Daisy is too caught up in her own insecurities to stand by the right decision and Matt does not care enough. When the turn to a third source, Cal, they are presented with an faulty outlet of responsibility. This lack of authority and guidance leads all of the characters to unhappiness and loneliness.

Daisy, the supposed mother, fails to mature out of adolescence due to her unforgiving insecurities. The narrator fails to name Daisy as the mother during the second paragraph of the story; she never gains a title of respect or care throughout the story. Daisy deals with the constant anxiety of a teenage girl. She is summoned to the principal’s office and her behavior represents that of a soon-to-be reprimanded student, “clutching (p. 36)” her purse. In fact, she describes herself as the “delinquent parent (p. 36).”  She imagines herself sitting before the principal as “an overweight housewife in a cotton dress (p.37), even before he enters the room. Her negative self-reflection is a clear indicator of her teenage immaturity. She focuses only on her appearance and the principal’s interpretation of her behavior as opposed to that of her son.

 Daisy soon finds herself participating in all of the activities a teenager would devote his or her time to while trying to help her son. Her effort fails and the psychologist recommends a tutor, Cal, to help bear the burden of parental responsibility. Donny seems to be happier each day he returns from Cals’ house. After some time Daisy realizes what a negative influence Cal is, but she is manipulated by her desire to “befriend” Donny, her son. She finds herself becoming jealous of Cal and his ability to make Donny happy. Because of the jealously she is again manipulated into giving the other group members what each of them wants; Cal keeps getting paid and Donny gets his free reign. Daisy also faces this struggle alone; she is unsupported by her husband. We see that Matt does have a critical eye; he comprehends the situation at Cal’s house, agreeing to the name of “teenage wasteland” accidentally brought up by Daisy while she is blinded by her love of Donny. Even though he understands the implication of that title, Matt fails to react in any positive way or, more significantly, in any way at all. We see Matt as an apathetic father. With a mother wrapped up in her own issues and a father not bothered to care, Donny has no where to turn but to Cal. Cal eventually deserts Donny as well. Every connection to his “group” has been severed and Donny has nothing left to do but run.