Rouge: A Novel

Awad emphasizes the effect of childhood experiences and mother-daughter relationships on adult self-esteem and priorities throughout the novel. One of the factors that most strongly affects Mira’s self-esteem is her relationship with her mother. Noelle’s comments on her own appearance affect her daughter’s self-esteem deeply. Whereas Mira sees Noelle as extremely beautiful, her mother makes continual self-deprecating comments, and when Noelle compliments Mira, these comments focus on the comparison between them. For example, when they are discussing their different complexions due to Mira’s Egyptian father, Noelle says: “Lucky, do you hear me? She wished she had your skin and your hair, absolutely. Definitely. And then she petted you like a dog. […] And you knew then that she was lying. She didn’t wish that. Not at all” (6). Awad represents the damage of such statements as twofold. First, the comparisons highlight the difference between mother and daughter. Given how beautiful Mira believes her mother to be, this sense of difference or contrast makes her feel ugly, even if her mother is being sincere. Second, Noelle’s negative attitude toward her own appearance—which Mira considers a paragon of beauty—creates the idea that beauty is unattainable. Through this, Awad shows that even innocuous statements can impact a child’s self-image.