Page "Carrie (novel)" Paragraph 6

For years, Carrie has been abused at home by her unstable Christian fundamentalist mother, Margaret White.

She does not fare much better at Thomas Ewen High School ; she has been a social outcast since first grade, and has been the focus of bullying due to her religious beliefs, her outdated clothing and her plain appearance.

At the beginning of the novel, Carrie has her first period while showering after gym class.

Carrie is terrified, having no concept of menstruation ; her mother never spoke to her about it, and she believes that she is bleeding to death.

Instead of sympathizing with the frightened Carrie, her classmates throw tampons and sanitary napkins at her.

As Carrie is aided by her gym teacher, Rita Desjardin, a light bulb in the shower burns out.