Loss of Innocence inLullabies for Little Criminals

Alphonse

Convinces twelve year old Baby that drugs
and prostitution are good for her.

Jules

Surrounds Baby with drugs all throughout growing
up and has no steady job to have money for them.

"Jules used to get down on his hands and knees and beg
me for my teeth to put under his own pillow, telling me he
needed the money more than me" (O'Neill 89).

Stacey

Sells the drugs to Baby with no concern of her
age.

"Despite having known me since I was nine years old,
Stacey wasn't at all freaked out about selling me dope."
(O'Neill 381).

Alphonse

Forces Baby to become his sex slave, later a prositute
which leads Baby into becoming addicted to heroin.

"He told me that I was white trash and slapped me, which left
an imprint of his hand on my face for three days" (O'Neill 369).

Zoe

Gives Baby the idea that having sex at a young are is normal
and okay to do.

"You have to lose your virginity when
you turn twelve" (O'Neill 29).

Jules

Always has put drugs ahead of a relationship with Baby, never allowing Baby to have a positive role model to follow.

Foster Homes

When a younger child, Baby frequently
moved from different foster homes.

Constantly Moving Homes

When living with her father Jules, they
often would to different 'shaggy' apartments.

"I never felt so lonely in
my life" (O'Neil 246).

Bad Neighbourhood

Surrounded by bad influences like pimps,
drugs and prostitution.

Xavier

Allows Baby to see what true love
really is.

"Xavier wasn't put-on earth to witness the bad
things like Jules and I were" (O'Neill 316).

Foster Mothers

Mary and Isabelle provide Baby with
the relationship she wants with the time
spent with them.

"I get excited when grown up paid attention to
me. It always made me feel special" (O'Neill 192).