A List of Cages

In the novel, Roe explores whether people are truly, innately mean or, alternately, if they are made mean through their circumstances. For example, Julian comes home from kindergarten and tells his mother about a mean boy in the class, Jared, who pinches other children when the teacher isn't looking, scribbles on their art work, and kicks down their towers of blocks. Julian's mother listens to Julian then replies, "there is no such thing as a mean child, only an unhappy one" (26). Julian tells his mother that she doesn't know how mean Jared is because she didn't see his behavior, but his mother insists, "'I don't have to see. I know'" (27). She tells Julian that Jared deserves nothing but Julian's sympathy, so the next day, when Jared knocks down Julian's tower, Julian puts a hand on Jared's shoulder and says, "'It's okay […] I know you're just unhappy'" (27). Jared responds by punching Julian in the eye. Julian then goes home and tells his mother that she was wrong, and Jared is truly evil because Jared hit him. However, Julian's mother still insists that "no one is evil, only unhappy, and unhappiness festers inside like a sore" (27). After Julian sees that his mother is sticking to her belief, Julian takes his mother's belief to heart and he begins to watch Jared. He sees Jared playing by himself and "hiding under the wooden beams of the jungle gym like a real-life kindergarten troll" (27), and soon Julian begins to feel sympathy for Jared.

One of the other mean people Julian encounters is Miss West, his Physical Science teacher. Even Adam thinks Miss West is mean because she took off points from Julian's essay just for spelling errors, taking his already-low score to even lower. The students in Julian's Physical Science class also view Miss West as mean, and they become hostile and revolt against her. Julian, however, suspects that Miss West is just unhappy, so one day, when Miss West seems more upset in class than she usually is, Julian approaches her and asks her if she is okay. Miss West breaks down crying and confesses to Julian that her dead's son birthday is that day, which confirms Julian's suspicions that Miss West is just unhappy and that there’s a reason she lashes out, as opposed to being innately mean.

The theme emerges again through the character of Charlie Taylor. Taylor terrorizes the freshmen in the cafeteria. He's "forever angry" and complaining, and he's constantly telling people to shut up (181). He calls his chemistry teacher a “bitch” and his friend, Adam, an “asshole.” He scowls and humiliates Julian. One day, Charlie gives Julian a ride home, and Julian asks Charlie if he’s happy. Charlie is surprised by Julian's question, and he acts as if Julian has just "voiced the most personal question he's ever been asked" (182). When Charlie admits he's not happy, Julian says he's sorry, and that he wants Taylor to be happy.

Roe even paints Russell's sadism as a result of an unhappy childhood. Russell's father died when he was young, and Russell was on his own at 17, and forced to go to work and support himself. Julian sympathizes with Russell as he's abducting him at Adam's graduation party when Russell talks about his dead father. Julian tells Russell that he understands what it's like to miss a parent. 

All major characters and several minor characters in this novel present false appearances and are in some way deceitful. Emerald, Adam's girlfriend, is one of these characters. Emerald and her friend, Camila, scheme to make Adam think Emerald has a college boyfriend named Brett. Adam believes Brett is real, but we find out later he's not. Emerald presents herself with poise and stoicism. Adam remembers when Emerald "won the spelling bee in middle school and Amy Flowers got jealous and poured her milk over her head, Emerald didn't cry" (108). However, we find out later that Emerald is not as poised and self-contained as Adam thinks when Emerald confesses to Adam that she cries once a week. Adam also thinks Emerald's intellect is superior. He comments that the way she braids her hair makes him think that she is a genius. However, as the story unfolds, we find out that Emerald is just as prone to making mistakes as anybody else when she stops Adam from calling the police on Russell, causing Adam to miss his chance to prevent Julian's abuse from escalating.

Another character that puts on a facade at the beginning of the book is Charlie Taylor. At the beginning of the book, Charlie "always looks ready to commit an act of violence," and he traumatizes the freshmen into "terrified mice" at the cafeteria when he says "shut the fuck up" (21,22). Charlie consistently embarrasses Julian and scowls at him. He complains constantly that Julian is weird, a tag-a-long, and shouldn't be included in their group of friends. However, by the end of the book, Charlie picks up in his car, pleads with Julian's theatre teacher (anonymously) to give Julian another chance at a part in the school play, acts as a bodyguard for Julian while Julian goes in to Russell's house to get Julian’s mother's green notebook, and, ultimately, saves Julian from being abducted.

Julian is also perceived incorrectly by others and is at times deceitful, though this is a by-product of the abuse he suffers. His handwriting is often illegible, which makes people like Miss West and Russell think that Julian can't write. However, Julian is actually a talented writer. Julian also appears to be a failure at learning his lines in the school play, but as Julian gains more confidence and practice, he executes a competent delivery of his lines. Finally, Julian appears not to be incapable of making friends; however, by the end of the novel, he has acquired many friends who love and protect him.

Adam has convinced all of his friends that he can't be in a bad mood, or get In School Suspension, or make a teacher mad. However, by the end of the novel, he has done all of these things. Adam has a persona that he is strong and sure of himself. Emerald states this when she tells Adam, "'You're so comfortable with yourself, you make everyone else feel comfortable too. And you're strong, like what hurts most people can't hurt you" (274).However, we find out that Adam is in turmoil when he reflects on deciding not to call the police about Russell. Adam, by the end of the book, does not appear to be as strong as he outwardly conveys.

Whenever Russell leaves the house, Julian is convinced that Russell is going to work, and Julian feels guilty that Russell has to work so hard to help with expenses while Julian stays at the house and does nothing. However, the truth is that Russell has not had a job in over a year, and he's living off the insurance policies that Julian's parents left him. Russell keeps an immaculate garage, living room, kitchen and bedroom–rooms people can see. However, he has a hidden room in his house that is in complete disorder. Russell also abuses Julian under the false pretense of being a dedicated mentor, someone who is doing Julian a favor by letting him remain under his expert tutelage, when, in reality, Russell is a sadist who only wants to please himself.