Leaving Time
Chapter 3: Serenity
by Picoult, JodiThe chapter “Serenity” introduces a protagonist who, from a young age, possesses the ability to see and interact with spirits invisible to others. As a child, she encounters various apparitions, from a boy under the jungle gym to an elderly woman singing lullabies. Her family acknowledges her psychic gift, tracing it back to her ancestors, but advises her to conceal it to avoid social alienation. Moving to New Hampshire, she learns to suppress her visions, such as foreseeing a teacher’s ink-stained blouse or a gerbil’s escape, to fit in with her peers.
Despite her efforts to hide her abilities, Serenity’s gift resurfaces when she foresees her friend Maureen’s injury during a playground swing jump. Choosing not to warn Maureen to avoid being labeled a freak, she witnesses the accident and loses her friendship. This pivotal moment leads her to vow always to speak up when her visions could prevent harm, even at personal cost. The chapter highlights her internal conflict between self-preservation and moral responsibility, as well as the isolating consequences of her gift.
As Serenity matures, she becomes more adept at distinguishing between the living and spirits, though her abilities have limits. She fails to predict her father’s suicide or her mother’s stroke, leading her to question the selective nature of her visions. She rationalizes that some knowledge is withheld for a reason, as knowing everything would diminish life’s purpose. After her father’s death, she and her mother relocate to Connecticut, where she explores her identity through Wicca and tarot readings in college, embracing her gift more openly.
In college, Serenity meets Shanae, a fellow occult enthusiast, who introduces her to spirit guides like Lucinda and Desmond. These guides help her navigate the paranormal realm safely, teaching her to set boundaries and control her abilities. The chapter concludes with Serenity’s growing acceptance of her gift, aided by her guides, as she learns to balance her psychic insights with a fulfilling life. The narrative underscores themes of self-discovery, the burden of foresight, and the importance of mentorship in mastering one’s unique talents.
FAQs
1. How did Serenity’s parents advise her to handle her “Gift” when starting at a new school, and what were the consequences of following this advice?
Answer:
Serenity’s parents advised her to hide her psychic abilities to avoid being ostracized, telling her, “if you don’t want to get hurt, you’re going to have to hide your Gift.” She complied by ignoring spirits (like the ink-stained teacher’s pen or the escaped gerbil) and only interacting with people others acknowledged. While this helped her make friends initially, it led to moral dilemmas—like when she foresaw her friend Maureen’s broken leg but stayed silent to avoid revealing her abilities. The consequence was Maureen labeling her a “freak” after the accident, demonstrating the trade-off between social acceptance and ethical responsibility.
2. Analyze the limitations of Serenity’s psychic abilities. How do these limitations shape her perspective on her Gift?
Answer:
Serenity’s abilities are inconsistent—she can’t predict major tragedies like her father’s suicide or her mother’s stroke, nor can she foresee practical gains (e.g., lottery numbers). This forces her to reconcile with the idea that some knowledge is intentionally withheld, as she reflects: “maybe there are things I’m not supposed to know.” These gaps humble her, distinguishing her from omnipotent stereotypes (she jokes, “I’m a psychic, not the Wizard of Freaking Oz”). Ultimately, she embraces uncertainty, arguing that knowing everything would negate life’s purpose, which shows her maturation from self-blame to acceptance.
3. How does Serenity’s relationship with her spirit guides, Lucinda and Desmond, differ from her earlier experiences with spirits? What role do they play in her development?
Answer:
Unlike the uncontrolled spirits of her childhood (e.g., the Civil War soldiers or runaway slave Spider), Lucinda and Desmond are deliberate guides who help her navigate the paranormal safely. They act as “babysitters,” shielding her from demons and setting boundaries—such as blocking questions with harmful answers. Their structured support contrasts with her earlier isolation, allowing her to “control [her] Gift, instead of letting it control [her].” This mentorship empowers her to embrace her abilities in college (e.g., tarot readings) while avoiding past pitfalls, marking a shift from fear to purposeful use of her Gift.
4. Critical Thinking: Why might the author have included Serenity’s failure to predict her father’s suicide? How does this event contribute to the chapter’s themes?
Answer:
This failure underscores key themes: the burden of expectation and the imperfect nature of psychic abilities. Serenity’s guilt (“I’ve replayed things in my head…”) humanizes her, challenging the trope of infallible psychics. The event also reinforces her realization that some knowledge is purposefully obscured—a lesson that shapes her later acceptance of uncertainty. By including this vulnerability, the author highlights that even “Gifts” have limits, making Serenity’s journey more relatable and emphasizing that life’s value lies in its unpredictability.
5. Application: If you were advising someone like Serenity, how would you balance the ethical use of psychic abilities with personal well-being, based on her experiences?
Answer:
Serenity’s story suggests two key principles: (1) Boundaries are essential—like her guides’ rules, abilities should be used selectively to avoid harm (e.g., withholding traumatic visions). (2) Ethical transparency matters—after Maureen’s injury, Serenity vows to always warn others, prioritizing moral duty over social approval. I’d advise setting similar limits (e.g., only sharing actionable insights) and seeking support (like Serenity’s mentorship with Shanae) to navigate stigma. The balance lies in using the Gift responsibly without suppressing it entirely, as both extremes (hiding vs. over-sharing) proved damaging in her youth.
Quotes
1. “I was eight years old when I realized the world was full of people no one else could see.”
This opening line introduces Serenity’s supernatural ability to perceive spirits, establishing the central theme of her “Gift” and the isolation it creates. It sets the tone for her lifelong struggle to navigate a world where she sees realities hidden from others.
2. “My parents had said that, if I didn’t hide my second sight, I’d get hurt. But it was better that I get hurt than someone else.”
This pivotal moment captures Serenity’s moral awakening after failing to prevent her friend’s accident. The quote reveals her decision to prioritize truth-telling over social acceptance, marking a turning point in how she wields her abilities.
3. “I’m a psychic, not the Wizard of Freaking Oz.”
This blunt statement underscores the limitations and burdens of Serenity’s Gift, particularly her inability to foresee personal tragedies like her father’s suicide. It reflects her frustration with others’ unrealistic expectations about clairvoyance.
4. “I don’t really want to see the whole landscape of the future. I mean, if I could, what’s the point of living?”
This philosophical reflection reveals Serenity’s mature perspective on her abilities. It demonstrates her understanding that mystery and uncertainty are essential components of human experience, even for someone with supernatural insight.
5. “They taught me to control my Gift, instead of letting it control me, by setting boundaries.”
This concluding insight shows Serenity’s growth in mastering her abilities with help from spirit guides. It represents the chapter’s overarching message about balancing supernatural perception with healthy human existence.