i would also add that it would really be unrealistic for her to suddenly be able to stand up to her father when she still believes that how he treats her is correct. she hasn’t addressed her abuse to anyone and as such hasn’t had an outside voice to tell her that it was wrong.
Thank you for addressing this. As someone who has been through similar upbringing, I can vouch for every thing that you have said. I stopped trying to correct people in the comments cuz they have no clue and prefer to continue operating in ignorance. Both Riften and Maxi are two individuals born from abuse and neglect. There are no therapists in the place or time of the story. No one to bring them through or pass their trauma. They are literally just winging their way through life the best that they could. And in some ways, they are still their childhood selves operating on trauma-based lessons that they've learned, but in adult bodies. There needs to be more grace and understanding with these characters. I am 41, have been through over a decade of therapy, and I'm still struggling to heal past three decades worth of trauma. It not simple or easy. And sometimes things get better, and other times you to relapse and fall back to square one. It is a heavy process and journey. But consideration, kindness, and understanding can go a long way.
so trueeee. cant believe them saying she deserves what's happening to her. and some justifying that she should just listen to him WHEN HE'S THE ONE WHO ISNT COMMUNICATING. atleast Maxi tries to improve herself UNLIKE SOMEONE
He already had his "improvement stage". If you never got to read riften's POV, they talk about it in there. She is now having hers. They both go through healing journeys, just at different stages in their life. But with both characters, the common communication issues are yet another separate improvement stage for them to go through.
-has no idea how much consistent physical abuse from a young age can alter your behavior and ability to function in life, and how hard it is to escape that abuse and undo the damage even as an adult.
this whole time maxi’s internal dialogue has told us that she believes she is completely worthless as a human being and deserves punishment—of course she is not going to suddenly do a 180 and be unafraid to communicate her feelings, or stand up to her father who she is still clearly terrified of. that’s something that could take her years to heal from. i know it is frustrating to see regression in what little character growth she has gotten, but i wish i saw more understanding of this.