The Transformative Power of Education in Tara Westover’s "Educated" In Tara Westover’s memoir "Educated," the journey from ignorance to enlightenment is portrayed as a strenuous yet transformative experience. Set against the backdrop of rural Idaho, Westover’s narrative follows her evolution from a childhood devoid of formal education to her pursuit of knowledge and self-discovery. Alongside her already difficult setting, her family was Mormon, which she no longer is. During her childhood, she experienced many setbacks that made her journey even more incredible, such as mental disorders, lack of education, and her father being a tyrant over the family. Through her narrative, Westover not only illuminates the importance of education, but also…show more content… As her father is controlling, he is also mentally ill. Because of this, throughout the novel, he can seem to be quick-tempered, two-sided, and hard to understand. He would say things such as, “I may as well surrender my kids to the devil himself, as send them down the road to that school” (Page 5). Despite lacking formal schooling, Westover is deeply curious and yearns for knowledge beyond the confines of her family’s beliefs. She understands being “Curious is a luxury for the financially secure” (Page 203), which is something her family was not able to achieve. This yearning for knowledge sets the stage for her transformative journey as she grapples with the tensions between loyalty to her family and the pursuit of her own intellectual and emotional growth. Once Westover overcomes her father and sets off on her academic quest, she proves to her family how important education is. Attending Brigham Young University (BYU) broke the barriers set by her confiding…show more content… They believed in modesty; we practiced it. They believed in preparing for the Second coming; we were actually prepared” (Page 151). Reflecting on this vivid memory, she can now form her own opinions and beliefs based on her knowledge. Throughout "Educated," Westover interweaves moments of revelation and self-discovery with vivid descriptions of the Idaho landscape, creating a rich tapestry that underscores the connection between place and personal identity. During her experience, she understood, “..., that education must be conceived as a continuing reconstruction of experience; that the process and the goal of education are one and the same thing”(Page 187). This was learned throughout her childhood into her stages of adult life, as there was not a time when Tara did not cherish a learning experience. As Westover continues to confront the contradictions of her upbringing and grapples with the trauma of her past, she discovers that education is not merely about acquiring knowledge but also about confronting uncomfortable truths and ultimately, forging a sense of self that is independent of external
