Katie, a classmate of Lucy Lam in Laurinda, represents a character who is torn between wanting power and trying to fit in with the popular group. Although she’s not in the powerful Cabinet, her actions show the pressure to conform in Laurinda’s elite school.
Desire to Fit In: Katie wants to be accepted by the popular girls at Laurinda. She tries to please them and follows their actions, even when it means ignoring their bullying. This shows how strong the pressure to fit in can be at Laurinda.
Moral Confusion: Katie is not cruel, but she doesn’t stand up to the bad things the Cabinet does. She doesn’t get involved in the bullying, but she doesn’t stop it either. This shows how difficult it can be to make the right choices in a place like Laurinda, where standing up to powerful people can be risky.
Insecurity and Fear: Katie is insecure and knows she doesn’t have the same power as the Cabinet. She wants to fit in to avoid being picked on herself. This makes her put her own safety before standing up for others, showing how students at Laurinda feel pressure because of social divisions.
Katie’s choices show Lucy what can happen when someone gives in to peer pressure. While Lucy tries to stay true to herself, Katie shows how hard it is to resist the temptation to fit in with the powerful group. Katie’s behavior helps Lucy understand the risks of compromising her values just to survive.
Conformity vs. Integrity: Katie shows the struggle between fitting in and staying true to yourself. She highlights how hard it is to resist powerful groups when everyone around you wants to conform.
Complicity and Silence: Katie’s choice to not stand up against the Cabinet shows how silence can allow bad things to continue. Her inaction highlights the dangers of not speaking out when you see something wrong.
Social Insecurity: Katie’s behavior shows how students in elite schools can feel insecure about their place and will sometimes go along with the powerful to avoid being left out.
Katie represents the pressure to fit in and the struggles of compromising personal values in a place like Laurinda. Unlike Lucy, who tries to stay true to herself, Katie’s actions warn of the dangers of losing yourself just to fit in. Though she’s not mean-spirited, Katie’s choices show how power and privilege can affect students and the moral decisions they face.