Any ideas for this woman's behavior...?

Question

I'm writing a novel currently, and one of the main characters lived in basically a ghost town/village in the middle of a complete, desolate and somewhat dangerous wasteland until she was around 18-21 years old, when she left.

There she lived with her parents and a few other people, and had absolutely NO contact with the outside world whatsoever. (no books, news, radio, etc.) She also didn't go to school or receive homeschooling as we know it, though she can read, write, and do math/algebra.

She's in her late 20's/early 30's during the novel, and her husband and his sister (who were raised in a large city and had regular contact with the outside) find this out about her, and become both weirded out (really) and distressed at what she might not know, since they both feel she might not be able to adjust to normal life.

So my question is, what are some general things that might influence her personality, and what odd behaviors can she display throughout the book?

As for her intelligence quotient: she's one of those gifted, creative people who would have been brilliant if anyone had ever taken the time to send her to school, or if she had at least been given something to read during her childhood.

Um. I saw "Nell". Great movie, but this isn't a feral child, it's a gifted (and certainly not retarded) woman with knowlege of what basically adds up to a ninth or tenth grader's in reading and mathematics.

Also, while Nell also had no contact with the outside, this character didn't grow up alone or with just one other person, but with a handful of other people (kind of like a fishbowl community.)

Answer 1

She is immature and inexperienced, as a child of about 5 or 6.
She would be quick to respond to kindness and attention, easily led, gullible, bent on pleasing and easily hurt.
(Shoot, that sounds a lot like me.)
OK? C. :)!!

Answer 2

One thought:

People who grow up in very small towns tend to (in my experience) approach romantic relationships with a greater emphasis on permanence and stability. In other words, they're quick to marry.

Growing up in an environment where your social options are very limited tends to ingrain into people from those environments the idea that once they find a suitable friend/partner, they had better stick with them.

I can also say that the type of people her parents were, and the type of relationship they had with her, determines a very significant degree of her own characteristics. If they're mentally ill drug abusers who neglected her, and she comes out as some exceptional loveable protagonist, your story already becomes less believable. I mean I liked "Matilda," but you have to admit it's irresponsibly fictional in that regard.

Answer 3

i dont really understand what your book is about or what the dangers you speak of are but ill respond from what i got out of reading your quik description.I would expect this person to have gotton her schooling from the earth around her.The animals especially and the subtle way the earth instructs us with its silent voice of knowledge.The way it makes us learn about how life is without speaking to us directly but through our minds voice.Perhaps mother nature in her mind has a voice that lovingly speaks to her and guides her and home schools her so to speak whenever she is outside exploring the wasted land full of ghosts of the grren beauty it once was.the personality of an ancient tree or serene lake.All the things in nature that used to be.Her eyes see what is no longer there.A barron dirt feild dry and ugly to us but to her she sees a grassy meadow full of wildlife.she somehow has the memories and wisdom of the land beauty that no longer exists.The importance of the organism apon which we live and our connection to it.To make the waste land beatiful again could be a longing desire that influences her personality and behavior throughout the book.
That might not be what your looking for but in my mind it makes an intersting character i would enjoy reading about.Good luck on your novel

Answer 4

Suggest examination of the LDS polygamy sects. British Columbia recently announced it would nor prosecute one such body in Community of Bountiful because Canadians
in that Province had no legal provisions against polygamy;
so one may assume those females might fit your model.

Answer 5

i would have to know what kind of personalities her parents and the other people have... they will determine the environment she grew up in
personally i used to live with my parents and brother and although we were not in an isolated town or anything, we rarely went out with others... i hardly knew any streets or any places outside except school... by this i mean i didnt even go to markets, restaurants, ANYTHING...
i did fairly well in school so i was arrogant... first time i went grocery (at 15) i wandered inside for 3 hours and finally came up with a box of cookies, then another 30 minutes to take up the courage to go to the cashier... haha
i was outspoken and tactless and also confrontational... i expressed whatever i felt... i bashed a lot of ppl... i took ppl at face values, whatever they said i would really believe in

but thats just me :) hopefully i gave you some idea

Answer 6

Watch the movie 'Nell' for some ideas.