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Laurinda- Learning Support: The Cabinet

Year 8 English

The Cabinet

In Laurinda by Alice Pung, the Cabinet is a group of three powerful girls—Amber, Chelsea, and Brodie—who control the social life at Laurinda Ladies' College. They are very good at using their wealth and popularity to get what they want and make other students do what they say.

They don’t use physical bullying but instead manipulate others with gossip and emotional tricks.

Themes Represented by the Cabinet

  • Power and Privilege: The Cabinet shows how having power and wealth can lead people to act without caring about others, creating a toxic environment.

  • Bullying and Peer Pressure: Their actions demonstrate that bullying isn't just physical; it can be emotional and psychological, making people feel left out or worthless.

  • Class and Exclusion: The Cabinet treats people from different backgrounds, like Lucy, poorly because they come from a wealthier world, showing the divide between the rich and the poor.

  • Identity and Integrity: The Cabinet tries to make Lucy change who she is, but she must decide whether to follow their bad behavior or stay true to herself.

 

Individual Members of the Cabinet

The Cabinet represents the unfair and mean culture at Laurinda, and through their actions, they challenge Lucy to stand up for herself and her values.

 

Amber: Amber is the leader and most manipulative. She enjoys controlling others and comes up with plans to hurt people.

Chelsea: Chelsea is quieter but still takes part in the group’s actions. She follows Amber’s lead and enjoys the power they have.

Brodie: Brodie supports Amber and Chelsea but is less outspoken. She helps with their schemes in her own way.

 

 

Key Parts of the Cabinet’s Characters

  • Power and Control: The Cabinet uses their influence to make others feel weak or afraid, isolating those who don't fit in with their group.

 

  • Charm and Privilege: The girls appear friendly and well-behaved, using their wealth and status to avoid consequences.

 

  • Emotional Bullying: The Cabinet bullies others by gossiping and excluding people, enjoying making others feel bad about themselves.

 

  • Targeting Vulnerable People: They target students who are different or seen as weak, like Lucy, a scholarship student from a working-class background, to manipulate and control them.

 

  • No Empathy: The Cabinet lacks concern for how their actions hurt others and only focus on benefiting themselves without taking responsibility.