Coronation Street - Current Episode Discussion - IV

[Dazzle]

don't you see Tracey as damaged goods? and she has never truly been loved by anyone but Deidre? so she uses attack as the best form of defence?

I simply don't think that's true Sarah. Ken isn't blind to her faults but he loved her enough to adopt her, and I doubt he's going to chuck her out of the house even though he's been so angry with her. He's forgiven her many a past wrong. She's a daughter to him, and I've no doubt he'll soon forgive her for upsetting Deirdre by having the affair with Tony.

Her first husband, Robert, loved her but they finished because she cheated on him (he obviously still has strong feelings for her). Rob loved her but in the end she put herself first by shopping him to the police (for which she ludicrously blames Carla). Amy loves her too, as did Blanche and Peter.

In fact, Tracy's actually luckier than most in that she had someone in her life who loved her so deeply she forgave anything - no matter how heinous. Deirdre knew that Tracy planned and committed a totally unprovoked murder for which she has no remorse and hasn't been punished, but she forgave her for it. Tracy's now lost that support so of course she's deeply unhappy, but she was incredibly fortunate to have it in the first place.

She's had plenty of love and is far less damaged than many soap characters who don't turn into cruel, remorseless, cold-blooded killers. Tracey has a personality disorder (probably anti-social, aka sociopathy/psychopathy) and such things can't be fixed in real life. If anything, the death of someone they "love" makes them even more bitter, cruel and determined to punish the world.

There are many damaged characters in fiction who I sympathise with, often despite myself. However, Tracey's long-term sadistic glee in hurting others (usually unprovoked) precludes me from feeling the slightest sympathy for her no matter how the writers try to redeem her.