Analysis of Borderline Personality Disorder in the Protagonist of Girl in Pieces by Kathleen Glasgow

This research paper aims to explore the main character's experience with Borderline Personality Disorder, stemming from distressing events in their past. The research seeks to analyze the underlying causes of the character's unstable personality and the resulting impact on their life. Borderline Personality Disorder is a psychological condition that often arises due to unstable relationships, experiences of physical or sexual abuse, and other traumatic events in life. The novel chosen for this research is Girl in Pieces by Kathleen Glasgow, published in 2016. To provide a theoretical foundation for this study and to examine the protagonist's life in the context of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), the researcher has adopted Linehan's (1993) Biosocial Theory of BPD. This theory is utilized to explore the portrayal of BPD in the main character of the novel. The research employs a descriptive qualitative approach, using textual evidence from the novel to support the analysis. Additionally, the method of character analysis has been applied, guided by Barnet's (1988) model, to comprehensively examine the protagonist's traits and better understand the causes and consequences of her disorder. The study concludes that due to BPD, the protagonist experiences significant psychological distress, including anxiety, nervousness, loneliness, mood swings, suicidal ideation, and self-harming behavior.