Shatter Me

In Shatter Me, Mafi explores the themes of both physical and emotional isolation. When Juliette’s parents learned that her touch could be lethal, they isolated themselves from her and abused her both verbally and physically. Thus, parental care is something alien to Juliette. She doesn’t know what it’s like to experience “the warmth of any kind of embrace,” and her body hurts from “the inescapable ice of isolation” (11). Instead of trying to understand Juliette’s condition, her parents not only physically isolated her but also blamed her for ruining their dream of having a perfect family. This led to Juliette isolating herself emotionally to prevent herself from hurting her parents even more.

Moreover, Juliette has felt separate from others for so long that she finds it hard to believe that she can be an integral part of a community. Since Juliette has been ostracized since an early age, she finds it hard to trust other people and to become open to them. Fear and repulsion that her parents and peers showed toward Juliette damaged her self-image and forced her to believe that she was unworthy of love and care. However, as the plot progresses, Juliette manages to overcome the consequences of her ostracization and regains her self-confidence.