Flow of Madness

Personally I find Cassie to be a character that is a bit whimsical. I also think that things are not always what they seem with her. This is why I took the opportunity to explore some of the images and symbols that tend to be paired with her name. This is Cassie and symbolism. 

I also may have mentioned a famous literary character in this. 

Apples

I tackled this a little bit in my conversation with a wonderful anonymous. They said that Cassie is portrayed in a similar light as Snow White and Adam & Eve. So I decided to look into the symbol of the apple. The two main messages that apples send are knowledge and temptation. 

Cassie due to her eating disorder and psychology is constantly tempted by her desire for things and her need for control. Based on what I have seen with her family and my interpretation of her character I feel that many of her issues stems from being neglected. Therefore she acts out for attention and also feels the need to control certain aspects in her life. Now what is interesting about Cassie is that she has no need to control people, but instead her surroundings. This makes her different from characters like Tony and Mini for instance. She wants to control the things around her and do things to get attention from the neglect she feels from her parents. 

The apple symbolizes this temptation that Cassie feels between giving into temptation over trying to stay in control. Apples also symbolize knowledge. Cassie can easily be interpreted as naive or unintelligent. Cassie though in my mind is someone who is quite wise in many ways. She seems to have an understanding of people and the things around her. While the rest of the world cannot even begin to fathom who she is what her truth is. 

Boats

Boats have an interesting connotation. Many times people interpret boats a female’s journey. Though I feel that is making something that is universal into a specific instance. Boats are about adventure, journey, and also escape. Cassie in the first episode series 1 says “I like boats…they go places.” Which is a statement that screams for a desire to be free and to escape from the world in which she lives. Boats are a symbol of Cassie’s desire to run and to float in life. To see things and to be free. 

Diners 

Cassie spends time at a local diner in Bristol. Usually she orders food and doesn’t eat it. She did end up giving into temptation at the end of her episode and devouring a juicy burger. Diners are usually used a symbol of the American Dream. There is something quintessentially American about a diner. Usually diners are places where people stop for a quick, easy, and cheap bite to eat before moving onto a new destination. It is also a place where people tend to go when they are desperate to eat like when you are on a road trip. 

Diners in terms of Cassie continues that picture of wanting to be free of things and to journey. It also shows the complicated relationship Cassie has with food. It also alludes to the United States which we all know Cassie escapes to after Chris’s death. 

Cats 

Cats are usually the symbol of rebirth and independence. Cassie talks about cats and is also seen with a cat at the rehabilitation center. I think you can make a case for both things for Cassie. There definitely seems to be a theme of independence, freedom, and also a desire to make a change with Cassie. Cats definitely represent all of this. 

Taxi Cabs 

Cassie has great luck with taxi drivers. In her episode in Series 1 she becomes friends with the cab driver who drove her to her appointments. He became a confidant and even encouraged her to eat. The second cab driver is in her episode in Series 2 after she runs to New York City. The cab driver in this episode leads Cassie into a nice part of New York and gives her tips. Both cab drivers are friendly and protective over Cassie. 

Again cabs are representative of a journey and also temporary circumstances. Usually you take a cab and take it once to never see the cab driver again. So those themes continue with the use of cabs for Cassie. 

Cassie reminds me in someways of Holden Caulfield from the book by JD Salinger entitled “Catcher in the Rye.” Both Holden and Cassie exhibit signs of being disappointed by people and life. Holden and Cassie are also people who are walking contradictions. They are complex. They both have this since of innocence that they feel they are losing and want to protect it. They both are wise at the same time as being innocent. Then lastly they both are characters in which their mental health is not fully there. They are hard people to figure out and yet they have a sweetness to them despite their contradictory and reckless behavior sometimes. 

Another thing that both of these characters have in common are epic conversations with cab drivers. Holden has always wondered where the fish go in the lagoon after the water has been iced over. He finally voices this question to a cab driver who responded that fish stay there and live it through. This is suppose to be a conversation that signifies what it means to be an adult. The cab driver thinks he’s just answering a simple question, but it becomes something more. In Cassie’s case the cab drivers are people who guide Cassie toward the right direction. Instead of Cassie telling the cab drivers where to go…they are trying to help guide her. Which is a reversal of what a cab is…

It’s interesting. To say the least. 

Taxi Cabs (Catcher in the Rye, Temporary, Escape - both of her episodes) , cats (rebirth…independent - mental institution and has talked about it)