Analysis

The analysis of the short story “The Sin Bin or Lucy’s Heart” by Lucy Cross shows a non-linear structure. The story is focused on Lucy’s inner conflict, rather than on external conflicts between the characters.  

The main character is Lucy Cooke, a high school girl. Her rebellious friend, Bethan, is a bad influence on her. Lucy both welcomes and resents Bethan’s presence in her life. 

The physical setting is Cardiff, United Kingdom, during the 1990s. The social setting explores issues such as social status, domestic violence, and bullying.

The story is told from the point of view of a first-person narrator whose perspective is limited by her youth and inexperience.

The language of the story is simple and blunt, reflecting the speech pattern of a teenage girl. 

You can read a more detailed analysis in the following pages.