Running head: CHARACTER ANALYSIS OF CAMILLE PREAKER OF SHARP OBJECTS 1

Not without Thorns:

A Character Analysis of Camille Preaker from HBO’s Sharp Objects

Rebecca R. Falcone

Lesley University
CHARACTER ANALYSIS OF CAMILLE PREAKER OF SHARP OBJECTS 2

Abstract

This paper explores the traumatic experiences of fictional character, Camille Preaker, of HBO’s

Sharp Objects in relation to her developmental stage in life. Camille, in her late-twenties to early-

thirties, now presents with alcohol dependency, possible Anorexia Nervosa, internalized

survivor’s guilt; night terrors; negative self-image; issues with intimacy; a tendency for self-harm;

suicidal ideation; and severe trauma, potentially to the point of being diagnosed with Post-

Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or Complex PTSD (C-PTSD). Through Erikson’s stages of

psychosocial development and relational-cultural therapy, Camille’s development can be

understood as a search for intimacy and a feeling of self-worth. Further, the goals of treatment,

then, are to mend those feelings of disconnection to the self and to others. Together, the theories

work to provide a lens through which to devise a therapeutic plan for art therapy treatment, with

emphasis on the benefits and uses of the Expressive Therapies Continuum (ETC).

Keywords: trauma, relationships, intimacy, self-worth

Not without Thorns:

A Character Analysis of Camille Preaker from HBO’s Sharp Objects

HBO’s Sharp Objects Synopsis

Wind Gap, Missouri is a town in which there are two types of people: old money, and trash

(Auge, 2018). Then there is Camille Preaker, self-described trash from old money, who now lives

in St. Louis and works as a journalist under her boss, Frank Curry (Auge, 2018). Curry sends

Camille on assignment to Wind Gap to report on the recent murder of 13-year-old Ann Nash and

kidnapping, later death, of 14-year-old Natalie Keene despite Camille’s complicated relationship

with her hometown and the people in it (Auge, 2018). Upon arrival, she stays with her socialite

mother, Adora; reserved step-father, Alan; and secretly rebellious kid-sister, Amma Crellin, in her

childhood home on the hog farm (Auge, 2018). Camille’s past begins to resurface the longer she

stays, which is one full of severe self-harm, death, and destruction (Auge, 2018). As a teenager,

Camille’s younger sister, Marian, passed after a life of unknown illnesses (Auge, 2018). Camille

and Adora always had a difficult relationship, as Camille always wished for her mother to love her

with no reciprocity (Auge, 2018). This was heightened after Marian’s death, leading Camille into

high-risk behavior, yet high-status as a rich cheerleader in the small town (Auge, 2018). But it was

also a period of self-harm, which has not subsided since (Auge, 2018). On every inch of skin aside

from her face, neck, and hands, Camille is covered in self-harm scars reading powerful words such

as “vanish,” “fix,” “dirt,” and “ripe” (Auge, 2018). This period leads her to check herself into a

psychiatric unit, where she later witnesses the suicide of her teenage roommate, Alice, and attempts

to kill herself, as well, in response (Auge, 2018). Seemingly having experienced enough trauma in

her life, it is discovered in the second-to-last climax that Adora has Munchausen’s Syndrome by

Proxy (MSBP) and is responsible for the death of Marian, near-death of Amma and Camille, and

is arrested for the murder of the two young girls of Wind Gap (Auge, 2018).
CHARACTER ANALYSIS OF CAMILLE PREAKER OF SHARP OBJECTS 4

Camille, in her late-twenties to early-thirties, presents with alcohol dependency, possible

Anorexia Nervosa, internalized survivor’s guilt; night terrors; negative self-image; issues with

intimacy; a tendency for self-harm; suicidal ideation; and severe trauma, potentially to the point

of being diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or Complex PTSD (C-PTSD).

Developmental Theories Application

Camille can be understood developmentally through many theories, but most evidently

through Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development and relational-cultural theory. While they

both provide individual explanations and approaches to understanding Camille’s life experiences

developmentally, they share a great deal, as well, namely, the intersection of personal identity with

relationships to others.

Erikson’s Stages of Psychosocial Development

According to Erikson, “each stage of human development is characterised by conflicting

or opposing emotional forces that every human being encounters for the first time at the

corresponding age (Basic Trust versus Mistrust, Autonomy versus Shame and Doubt, and so on)”

(Batra, 2013, p. 256). Camille, as a young adult, is currently in the stage Erikson defines as

Intimacy versus Isolation, during which time, if all goes to plan, an “adult becomes willing to share

identity with others and to commit affiliations and partnerships” (Broderick & Blewitt, 2015, p.

12). However, when looking at Camille through this developmental theoretical lens, it is

significant to note the importance of all other stages to come before. Much like a staircase, stages

build upon one another, and success or failure in one stage of life has immense impact on all

successive stages. For example, Camille’s early life experiences in infancy, theoretically, affect

her ability to trust or withdraw from others (Batra, 2013, p. 258). It is suggested that,

For a child born into a family where love, economic security, play and happiness

are available in abundance, the child learns to live with the feeling of being trusted
CHARACTER ANALYSIS OF CAMILLE PREAKER OF SHARP OBJECTS 5

and in turn learns to trust others. Hope emerges as the basic virtue, engendering a

feeling that life is worth living and regulating. During infancy, the mother plays the

most critical role. (Batra, 2013, p. 259)

In Camille’s case, it is evident that the role of the mother has had detrimental affects on her mental

health, and it would be reasonable to consider Erikson’s theory that Camille’s trouble trusting

others may have stemmed from the lack of love and support offered during infancy. This closely

relates to attachment theory. As an infant, Camille likely had an avoidant attachment to her

mother. While this attachment style developed in infancy, the schema of what a relationship is or

is not was likely starting to form at this age. Camille may relate to phrases in her current stage,

such as “I am somewhat uncomfortable being close to others; I find it difficult to trust them

completely, difficult to allow myself to depend on them. I am nervous when anyone gets too close,

and often, love partners want me to be more intimate than I feel comfortable being” (Broderick &

Blewitt, 2015, p. 477). Though trust is built in infancy, it circles back when building intimacy in

young adulthood. Likewise, if Adora and Alan did not encourage autonomy in early childhood

during the Autonomy versus Shame and Doubt stage of life, this may have attributed to Camille’s

inability to control her compulsions (Batra, 2013, p. 258), which manifested in her self-harm and

addiction habits later in life. It is important to note, however, as the importance of the caregiver

shifts, Camille may have had better outcomes in other areas due to more positive experiences with

alternative figures. In her current stage of young adulthood, the most important people will be

friends and romantic partners (Batra, 2013, p. 258). The positive outcome will be the ability to

achieve intimacy, while the contrast destines her to a life of distancing herself from others

(Broderick & Blewitt, 2015, p. 12). Therefore, while her parents seemingly doomed her to a life

of mistrust, positive relationships with friends and loved ones may be able to alter her fate in

achieving intimacy.
CHARACTER ANALYSIS OF CAMILLE PREAKER OF SHARP OBJECTS 6

Relational-Cultural Theory

While Erikson’s theory certainly holds weight in Camille’s case, it lacks in that it implies

failure or success, and few degrees of in-between. Erikson was a proponent that individuals could

experience the stages at later times in life, and overcome certain negative outcomes through factors

of resilience, yet it would be easy to look at Camille as unrecoverable through such a lens. But is

there anything more resilient, recoverable than the human spirit? Accordingly, in addition to

viewing Camille through the stages of psychosocial development, it is important to view her in

relation to others through relational-cultural theory, which likewise presumes the importance of

relationships in growth and development. Through this theory, it is suggested that “disconnections

create hopelessness and isolation” (Jordan, 2018, p. 9), feelings so deeply rooted in Camille.

“Relational-cultural theory (RCT) is built on the premise that, throughout the lifespan,

human beings grow through and toward connection. It holds that we need connections to flourish,

even to stay alive, and isolation is a major source of suffering for people, at both a personal and

cultural level” (Jordan, 2018, p. 3). This source of suffering is extremely evident in the case of

Camille. When she is feeling most isolated, she drinks more, eats less, and engages in self-harm.

Jordan (2018) suggests “chronic disconnections . . . result from repeatedly encountering

nonempathetic responses. At the extreme, they result from humiliations, violations, abuse, and

emotional neglect” (p. 8). Those risk-factors epitomize the torture inflicted by Camille’s mother,

Adora. While it might be simple to suggest Camille should just move past her mother, it is

important to recognize that, according to this theoretical framework, as chronic disconnection

occurs, “the less powerful, injured person feels she or he is to blame for the disconnection and

feels immobilized and increasingly isolated” (Jordan, 2018, p. 31). As much as she may harbor

feelings of mistrust and hatred toward Adora, the isolation caused by her disconnection with her

mother seeps into her other relationships. Of course, a protective factor for Camille and her ability
CHARACTER ANALYSIS OF CAMILLE PREAKER OF SHARP OBJECTS 7

to continue to grow is her ability to find healthy, “growth-fostering relationships [which] are

characterized by (a) zest; an increase in energy; (b) increased knowledge and clarity about one’s

own experience, the other person, and the relationship; (c) creativity and productivity; (d) a greater

sense of worth; and (e) a desire for more connection” (Jordan, 2018, p. 7). As a girl, she developed

a trusting relationship with the family housekeeper, Gayla, whom she can express verbal and

physical signs of love towards. Likewise, she has found a father-figure in her boss, Frank, who

ultimately became her savior. For Camille’s treatment, helping her to focus on those positive

connections will be imperative. In fact, such focus may provide her with more appropriate coping

mechanisms, as “honoring our relational nature allows us to reach out for comfort when we are

afraid” (Jordan, 2018, p. 4). Essentially, understanding the importance of healthy relationships

with others instead of withdrawing into oneself may help Camille in “developing relational

resilience—the capacity to move back into connection after disconnection and the capacity to

reach out for help” (Jordan, 2018, p. 37). Though “many suggested [RCT] was ‘dangerous’

because it invited more engagement on the part of the therapist [and] they were particularly worried

. . . ‘boundaries’ would become lax” (Jordan, 2018, p. 20), because Camille has such disconnected

relationships to others, a growth-fostering relationship provided by the therapist may serve as a

therapeutic tool in itself, and allow her to feel connection in an effort to move towards it.

It is the understanding of these two theories in association with one another, rather than in

contrast to one another, that Camille’s development can be understood. Through Erikson, there is

the importance of achieving intimacy in young adulthood, and the consequence of isolation

without it. Additionally, the power of relational-cultural theory suggests that Camille, through all

stages of life, is craving connection. “Recovery, [particularly for Camille, should be] based upon

the empowerment of the survivor and the creation of new connections. Recovery can take place
CHARACTER ANALYSIS OF CAMILLE PREAKER OF SHARP OBJECTS 8

only within the context of relationships; it cannot occur in isolation” (Herman, 1992, p. 133). It is

this understanding which will be the basis of her treatment.

Treatment Plan

Camille has entered treatment after experiencing a severely traumatic event. Adora,

Camille’s mother, presents with Munchausen’s Syndrome by Proxy (MSBP). The technical

definition of MSBP is “the attribution of an illness state to the child (through description of

physical symptoms, or falsification of specimens, temperature charts, etc.), the induction of an

illness state (through the actual administration of noxious substances), and the maintenance of an

illness state (Adshead, Brooke, & Mitchell, 2001, p. 3). Simplified, “Munchausen’s is when you

hurt yourself to get attention . . . Munchausen’s by proxy, on the other hand, is when you make

someone else sick so you can care for them, so you can save them, or try; be seen trying” (Auge,

2018). In this case, Adora believes her children to be sick, thus, she makes them sick through her

own concoction of rat poison disguised as medicine to align with her belief (Auge, 2018). Though

experiencing mental illness, “some would consider MSBP a descriptor of an unusual form of child

abuse rather than a disease” (Adshead et al., 2001, p. 185). Adora’s diagnosis was the cause of

Marian’s death years earlier, in addition to the years of sickness Amma had experienced. Upon

discovery, Camille faked an illness as an act of altruism for Amma’s protection. Camille quickly

became deathly sick, but as she lay dying on Adora’s bedroom floor, local authorities came to her

rescue at the demand of her boss and the town’s visiting detective, leading to Adora’s arrest.

Camille, however, has not simply been subjected to one traumatic event, rather, has

experienced prolonged abuse and trauma throughout her development leading to a cumulation of

presenting problems. As an infant, Adora believed Camille to be difficult and disobedient, often

refusing to eat (Auge, 2018). Adora admitted she never really loved Camille, as she reminded her

too much of her biological father (Auge, 2018). As a child, she was constantly criticized and
CHARACTER ANALYSIS OF CAMILLE PREAKER OF SHARP OBJECTS 9

reprimanded for not being like her more-compliant younger sisters (Auge, 2018). As an

adolescent, Camille rebelled further after the loss of her sister, which only led to further tragedy,

trauma, and isolation. Pivotal moments included finding a hunting shed in the middle of the woods

filled with violent pornography and being gang-raped by five classmates in the woods, only to be

considered a “slut” by her classmates (Auge, 2018). As a young adult, she witnessed the suicide

of a roommate in her rehab treatment for self-harm leading to her own attempt with a loose screw

in the room (Auge, 2018). During Camille’s investigation, Adora used her power as the town’s

primary provider of jobs and wealth to consistently attempt to prevent Camille from doing her

work, such as by interrupting interviews and chastising her for publishing articles (Auge, 2018).

More traumatic, however, her mother took her dress shopping with Amma, only to end up

revealing Camille, and her scars, to Amma in a changing room, without apology (Auge, 2018).

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

In Camille’s case, treatment will be difficult, as she has a variety of presenting issues which

cannot be tackled one-by-one on their own, and, rather, must be treated at their core. Her

presenting issues can almost all be traced back to her experience of severe, sustained trauma, with

the primary disorder being PTSD or Complex-PTSD, and its impact on her feelings of self-worth.

“Traumatic events call into question basic human relationships. They breach the attachments of

family, friendships, love, and community. They shatter the construction of the self that is formed

and sustained in relation to others” (Herman, 1992, p. 51). “[Relational-cultural] therapy is

particularly suited to working with clients with PTSD. In many ways posttraumatic stress disorders

are disorders of connection and isolation. People who have been traumatized have lived in unsafe,

non-growth-fostering relationships” (Jordan, 2018, p. 102). Because Camille spent her life

enduring the experiences of abandonment by her birth-father, physical and emotional abuse by her

mother, grief of her sister, early exposure to violent sexual images, sexual assault and exploitation
CHARACTER ANALYSIS OF CAMILLE PREAKER OF SHARP OBJECTS 10

by her peers, and the like, she internalized feelings which led to other issues, such as her alcohol

dependency and self-harm. For,

The child trapped in an abusive environment is faced with formidable tasks of

adaptation. She must find a way to preserve a sense of trust in people who are

untrustworthy, safety in a situation that is unsafe, control in a situation that is

terrifyingly unpredictable, power in a situation of helplessness. Unable to care for

or protect herself, she must compensate for the failures of adult care and protection

with the only means at her disposal, an immature system of psychological defenses.

(Herman, 1992, p. 96)

For Camille, these defenses formulated in both her connection to herself, and to others.

Connection to the self. Camille is in a constant state of feeling internal anguish, for “social

pain and physical pain are indistinguishable. Pain is pain. The conclusion drawn . . . is that

connections are so essential to our lives that we are neurobiologically ‘wired’ to respond to

exclusion and isolation in the same way that we respond to physical pain [or] lack of air and water”

(Jordan, 2018, p. 23). Because of the trauma she has experienced beginning in early life, she

experiences trouble with self-esteem, particularly feelings of being worthy of the love and

acceptance her mother never offered her. From loss of control of the self, to internalized guilt,

Camille’s connection to her own identity will be central to her treatment.

Control of the self. Camille, presenting with anorexia and addiction, displays difficulty in

control of the self, to the extreme. The first of which is with food. “RCT therapy suggests that a

woman’s disturbances in her relationship with food and in her relationships with herself and others

occur largely because of the absence of perceived mutuality. Women with low levels of mutuality

are more apt to develop eating disorders” (Jordan, 2018, p. 105). Especially in the presence of her

mother who insists she eat more, Camille is consistently controlling her intake of food to the point
CHARACTER ANALYSIS OF CAMILLE PREAKER OF SHARP OBJECTS 11

she hardly ever consumes at all. On the opposite, she is out-of-control in her dependence to alcohol

and sexual behavior. Camille packed nothing but candy bars and alcohol nips to return to Wind

Gap, frequented the local bar at all hours of the day, and hid her addiction from others by drinking

Vodka out of a water bottle (Auge, 2018), displaying the signs of addiction: continued interaction

with a behavior despite increasing negative consequences. Camille experiences this cycle of acting

out and acting in as described by Carnes, Murray, & Charpentier (2004, p. 51). They suggest

deprivation in one area leads to out-of-control behavior in another. This can be illustrated through

an instance in which Camille experiences lack of control in journalistic ethics. After an altercation

with her mother, Camille lies to her boss about the source of a piece of information used for her

story to get it published against her mother’s wishes (Auge, 2018). Because her life is so

controlled, so deprived by her mother, she acts out to release.

Internalized guilt. Camille experiences guilt in two ways: first, in an effort to take

responsibility for the faults of her parents, and second, as a survivor. For the former, guilt is a

consequence of years of child abuse and trauma. According to Herman (1992),

Though [the abused child] perceives herself as abandoned to a power without

mercy, she must find a way to preserve hope and meaning. The alternative is utter

despair, something no child can bear. To preserve her faith in her parents, she must

reject the first and most obvious conclusion that something is terribly wrong with

them. She will go to any lengths to construct an explanation for her fate that

absolves her parents of all blame and responsibility. (p. 101)

As a child, Camille was told she was the cause of her mother’s hurt (Auge, 2018). Everything was

her fault. If she were to live her life in her home with her mother, who held social power in the

town, she had to adapt, and she internalized feelings of shame, doubt, and isolation projected by

her parents. As for the latter, “feelings of guilt are especially severe when the survivor has been a
CHARACTER ANALYSIS OF CAMILLE PREAKER OF SHARP OBJECTS 12

witness to the suffering or death of other people. To be spared oneself, in the knowledge that others

have met a worse fate, creates a severe burden of conscience” (Herman, 1992, p. 54). These

feelings are associated with being the survivor over her roommate and then her sister, Marian, but

are also so entrenched that she was willing risk herself rather than let Amma suffer (Auge, 2018).

Connection to others. Camille’s connection to herself, of course, closely relates to how

she interacts with others. “Rarely feeling safe enough to bring their vulnerability into relationship.

People who have been traumatized suffer from immobilization, self-blame, isolation, and shame”

(Jordan, 2018, p. 102). Throughout her time at Wind Gap, Camille sustains platonic relationships

in which she hides her true, hurting self. She also maintains sexual relationships with two

individuals. The first is a visiting detective, who she does not trust enough to ever see her body,

her scars. Sexuality with Richard is intimate only physically, as “being invited into vulnerability

behind closed doors with another, more powerful person who you are told you can trust is a

powerful trigger for a victim of childhood abuse” (Jordan, 2018, p. 102). Yet, when she interacts

with the top murder suspect in the town, he “sees” her in a way no other man has and shares in her

feelings of grief. This is the first time Camille allows herself to “get close” (Auge, 2018), which

provides hope that she can find intimacy in relationships with others who can truly see her.

However, the opinions of others hold high esteem in her mind. After being with the man who sees

her, Richard arrests him for the suspected murder, only to shame Camille for being “a drunk and

a slut” (Auge, 2018). It is those words, said in a relational context, which hold so much weight in

the individual context for her, as well. She pleaded with Richard, asking him not to hate her and

attempting to kiss him and remove his pants (Auge, 2018), revealing sexual activity has become

the only connection she knows, as it is the only one in which she has been able to find pleasure.

Treatment through the Expressive Therapies Continuum (ETC)

Thus, the primary goal of treatment will be to mend Camille’s connection to herself while

also emphasizing the importance of healthy relationships, both platonic and sexual, as well. By

addressing the core of her presenting issues, she has a better chance of healing. As an art therapist,

the Expressive Therapies Continuum (Hinz, 2009) offers a helpful way of reaching Camille at this

very raw level in a trauma-informed way. Because trauma is painful, art’s non-verbal nature may

help Camille in expressing internal pain. For, what is art therapy if not externalizing the internal,

and giving a voice to the voiceless? Camille, like many, will likely find benefit in all areas of the

ETC. On the Kinesthetic/Sensory level, Camille has extensive experience and expectations.

Camille, for years, has used the feeling of physical pain to be a release from internal suffering. It

may be helpful to begin by sidestepping this level, as it may serve as a trigger. On the

Perceptual/Affective level, Camille may find the most benefit to begin. She currently experiences

an inability to cope with emotional (affective) feelings. When in emotional pain, she screams,

drinks, and restricts food. By addressing emotions in a healthy, controlled way, Camille may be

able to achieve progress. Lastly, on the Cognitive/Symbolic level, Camille has often found herself

using words, which she carves into her skin, as symbols of memories and painful experiences. For

example, she uses the word “CHERRY” to represent being seen as ripe on the outside, but a dark

pit on the inside (Auge, 2018). Addressing this level after the Perceptual/ Affective may be helpful

in comprehension of how her feelings have altered her world, cognitively.

Conclusion

Camille has suffered severe trauma, not just in the most recent events, but lifelong.

Recovery will be an extensive, intense journey. Growth and development, however, are expected

to be similar in that way. Much like Adora describes Camille, life is “a rare rose, but not without

thorns” (Auge, 2018). And if Camille has shown the world anything thus far, is that she will

overcome; she will bloom.

References

Adshead, G., Brooke, D., & Mitchell, I. (Eds.). (2001). Munchausen's syndrome by proxy: current

issues in assessment, treatment, and research. Retrieved from https://ebookcentral-

proquest-com.ezproxyles.flo.org

Auge, D. (Producer). (2018). Sharp objects [Television series]. New York, NY: Home Box Office.

Batra, S. (2013). The Psychosocial Development of Children: Implications for Education and

Society--Erik Erikson in Context. Contemporary Education Dialogue, 10(2), 249–278.

Retrieved from http://ezproxyles.flo.org/login?url=https://search-ebscohost-

com.ezproxyles.flo.org/login.aspx?direct=true&db=eric&AN=EJ1053456&site=eds-

live&scope=site

Broderick, P. C. & Blewitt, P. (2015). The life span: Human development for helping

professionals (4th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.

Carnes, P. J., Murray, R. E., & Charpentier, L. (2004). Addiction interaction disorder. In R. H.

Coomb (Ed.), Handbook of addictive disorders: A practical guide to diagnosis and

treatment (pp. 31-59). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Herman, J. (1992). Trauma and recovery: The aftermath of violence—from domestic abuse to

political terror. New York, NY: Basic Books.

Hinz, L. D. (2009). Expressive therapies continuum: a framework for using art in therapy. New

York, NY: Routledge.

Huss, E. (2015). A theory based approach to art therapy: Implications for teaching, research,

and practice [Nook Version]. Retrieved from BarnesAndNoble.com

Jordan, J. V. (2018). Relational-cultural therapy (2nd ed.). Washington, DC: American

Psychological Association.