Anita and Me

by

Meera Syal

Fat Sally Character Analysis

Although Fat Sally (a nickname everyone seems to use) is initially one of Anita’s two best friends, she later shows herself inclined to stand up to Anita and challenge the girl’s opinions. When Anita makes fun of Sally’s family’s wealth as well as the nuns at Sally’s school, Sally grows vengeful and violent, physically attacking Anita by pulling off chunks of her hair. Sally apparently comes from a supportive family environment, and her mother occasionally tries to keep her away from Anita, whom she understands as a bad influence.
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Fat Sally Character Timeline in Anita and Me

The timeline below shows where the character Fat Sally appears in Anita and Me. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 1
Family Discipline and Guidance Theme Icon
Friendship Theme Icon
Truth vs. Lies Theme Icon
...Ormerod’s shop, Meena recalls speaking to Anita Rutter and her closest friends, Sherrie and Fat Sally, a few days earlier. That day, Anita told Meena that the sailor on a commercial... (full context)
Chapter 3
Friendship Theme Icon
...of smaller kids who follow her around everywhere, though her most regular friends are Fat Sally, a shy girl from an upper-class background, and Sherrie, the farmer’s daughter. When Anita and... (full context)
Chapter 5
Friendship Theme Icon
Truth vs. Lies Theme Icon
...they move constantly from one place to the next. They run into Sherrie and Fat Sally, who have a lot of make-up on their faces and are wearing very short clothes.... (full context)
Racism and Violence Theme Icon
...arm around her. Sherrie chooses to stand by a boy called Tonio, which leaves Fat Sally and the last boy, Gary, to stay together. Meena sees the boy’s disappointment about being... (full context)
Chapter 6
Family Discipline and Guidance Theme Icon
Friendship Theme Icon
...Roberto discovered what happened with the Poet. When Meena asks Anita about Sherrie and Fat Sally, Anita angrily replies that Fat Sally’s mother does not allow her to go out anymore.... (full context)
Chapter 7
Friendship Theme Icon
The next day, Meena sees Anita and Fat Sally take a detour by her house to show her that they are walking to Sherrie’s... (full context)
Chapter 9
Family Discipline and Guidance Theme Icon
Friendship Theme Icon
...Anita to get angry at her, Anita merely complains about Tracey being there. When Fat Sally challenges Meena, Anita defends her, saying that she is her “mate” and can therefore be... (full context)
Friendship Theme Icon
...dog up so that it doesn’t scare the horses, and Anita insists on using Fat Sally’s belt to tie him up. The girls then discover that it is not a belt,... (full context)
Friendship Theme Icon
Culture and Belonging Theme Icon
The discussion turns violent when Anita mentions Sally’s fancy school, arguing that the nuns at her school are too ugly to have sex.... (full context)
Friendship Theme Icon
...in breaking free of his leash. He runs out as quickly as he can, while Sally stops fighting to retrieve her scarf and leaves, soon followed by Tracey, who wants to... (full context)