Double Dutch

Double Dutch explores the burden of secrecy through the obstacles faced by the two viewpoint characters, Delia and Randy.

Draper tells the story with a split perspective point of view, switching back and forth between Delia and Randy. This allows the reader to access the characters’ inner thoughts and secrets while highlighting how others see them. Randy thinks about how Delia seems “to have it all together” while Delia thinks Randy has “everything under control” (11, 38). When Randy looks at his own life, he feels “really worried” and “all alone” (19), while Delia feels like she is standing “helpless” in the path of the state proficiency test barreling toward her like a “runaway truck” (30). Draper highlights the disparity between appearances and reality for these characters. This rift creates pressure on Delia and Randy to measure up to the appearance they try to present.

Delia’s secret—her inability to read—creates a significant emotional burden, affecting her relationships and self-worth. It prevents her from connecting honestly with her friends, particularly with Randy, despite her desire to be open. The looming state proficiency test serves as a constant reminder of her challenges, threatening not only her academic progress but also her participation in Double Dutch, an activity that provides her with confidence and empowerment. Delia feels that if she can’t participate in Double Dutch, she’ll “just die,” underscoring how important Double Dutch is to her sense of self and self-esteem. When her friend Yolanda admits to knowing about the reading issue, it deepens Delia’s sense of shame. Despite her friends’ willingness to support her, Delia feels trapped in her situation, believing there is no way out of the psychological spiral her secret has created.

Randy’s storyline mirrors Delia’s. He grapples with the heavy burden of his own secret—his father’s disappearance during a long-haul trucking trip. Randy’s secret is not only an emotional burden but a matter of survival, as he faces dwindling food supplies and financial instability. The fear invades his life “like smoke under his door” (95), permeating his thoughts, obscuring his escape routes, and consuming him like a house fire. His secret compels him to adopt adult-like responsibilities, forcing him to care for himself in the absence of parental support. This self-reliance, while necessary, isolates him further as he feels both too proud and too ashamed to seek help within his community. Because Randy’s mother walked out on him as a child, Randy harbors a deep fear of abandonment and a hidden insecurity that nobody cares enough about him to stick around. He projects that fear onto his father, believing that his father is capable of the same kind of abandonment. As he struggles to cope with his reality, Randy’s secret deepens his sense of isolation, contributing to a deteriorating self-image.

Through Delia and Randy, Draper illustrates how the weight of secrets can entrap characters, preventing them from seeking support and fostering authentic connections. Both characters’ internal conflicts reveal the damaging effects of concealment, as their inability to share their burdens isolates them from potential help and understanding. The novel explores the notion that the psychological toll of secrets affects individual well-being and hinders the development of meaningful relationships, emphasizing the importance of vulnerability and honesty in overcoming personal struggles.