Adam's Journey
Life gets complicated when you find out you are not who you think you are. When Adam finds out who he really is, his past becomes clear to him. In the book I Am The Cheese written by Robert Cormier, Adam Farmer gets curious about his past life so he starts snooping around and what he finds out is, his name is actually Paul Delmonte. His family is in government protection so they had to change their names and move away, all because Adam’s father uncovered something he was not supposed to. Throughout Adam’s journey his father was his priority in the beginning, towards the middle he was curious and he ended up traumatized.
In the beginning of the novel I Am The Cheese, It is very important that Adam sees his father in Rutterburg,
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Vermont. In this quote from the novel, Adam has just arrived at his home and he plans on making a trip to Rutterburg. He points out that he could easily take a train, but is determined to ride his bike. “The bike was waiting in the garage and that's how he wanted to go. By bike, by my own strength and power. For my father.” (Cormier 3). In this quote, Adam shows that he is willing to go to extremes to get to his father because he has the option to go by train, but he doesn’t want to take the easy way. He does this because his father is very important to him. In this next example of how important Adam’s father is to him, Adam has begun his journey to Rutterburg when he gets the urge to go back but he remembers his father. “I thought of my father and started pedaling away and I gained momentum and knew I would go, nothing would stop me, nothing.” (Cormier 5). This second example shows that Adam’s father is important to him because Adam is saying that he will stop for nothing to get to his father, even if he has an urge to go back home. This is just the beginning, Adam hasn’t figured out his past, yet. Towards the middle of the novel, I Am The Cheese, Adam’s past finally becomes clear to him because he becomes curious.
He finds out that his name is not Adam Farmer, and his life is not what he thinks. In this quote from the novel, Adam has received the news that his name is not Adam, it is Paul Delmonte. His family was put into a protection program by the government, so they had to change their names, move away and start a new life. “And yet a small part of him was isolated and alone, a part that was not Adam Farmer any longer but Paul Delmonte. I am Paul Delmonte, a voice whispered inside him.” (Cormier 123). This quote from I Am The Cheese shows how Adam’s life has changed because he did not know his past before this talk with his father, but once he learns this he is enthralled in it. Everything in his life has been pushed into view, all because he was curious about the things going on around his house such as Grey coming to the house every week and his mother on the phone for hours every Thursday. In the next quote from the novel, Adam speaks on the events that changed his family's lives. Mostly his father's decision to testify in a case of government corruption. “And, finally, his father told him that Adam Farmer had come into being a long time before, when the reporter who was Anthony Delmonte--and would someday be David Farmer-- had uncovered certain documents, obtained certain information at the State House in Albany, information that would change a lot of lives …show more content…
irrevocably…” (Cormier 123). This example explains how Adam is curious because he is asking his dad a lot of questions such as why they are in the protection program and his dad answers by explaining how he uncovered information he was not supposed to. Adam would have never known this information if he was not curious about it. After these findings, Adams life is turned upside down. In the ending of I Am The Cheese Adams life takes a turn for the worst and leaves him traumatized.
His father’s enemies finally catch up to him and it does not end well. In this dialogue, Adam is describing what happened to his mother and father and what had caused his trauma. “Into them. Into his father, his mother and himself. The car smashing, shattering. He saw his mother die. Instantly. Death without any doubt, and he regarded her almost curiously, numb, without feeling.” (Cormier 199-200). This experience traumatized Adam because he was not just hit and injured by a car, but he also witnessed his mom die with his very own eyes. This experience would traumatize anyone. This event even caused him to be sent to a mental hospital because of the mental state he was in after the murders of his mother and father. In this next quote, Adam has just returned to the hospital after his “journey” to Rutterburg, when in reality he never left Rutterburg, he just thought he did because his mind is messed up due to his mother and fathers deaths. “The hospital is on a small hill in front of us. ‘Welcome back, Skipper,’ someone calls.” (Cormier 205). This quote proves that Adam is traumatized because he is not aware of his surroundings and he cannot comprehend what is actually going on. Also, he has to go to a hospital and talk to a psychiatrist because he is not in a normal mental
state. Sometimes knowing everything about certain things is not always the best for you, especially in the case of Adam Farmer. The main character, Adam Farmer went from naive to curious to traumatized throughout his journey in the novel I Am The Cheese by Robert Cormier. In the beginning, Adam’s main priority was to see his dad. He was curious in the middle because he started questioning the things that happened at his house, and he started learning about where he came from and what his true identity is. Adams journey ended with him being traumatized by his mother and fathers deaths, this was Adams breaking point. After that event, Adam was placed in a mental hospital. Adams life was shaped by one of his dads mistakes. This should inspire the reader to learn from their mistakes and to not repeat them or it may result in a life-changing situation.
Everyone at some point is bound to experience situations where they question who they really are. This conflict usually arises as a result of either another’s actions or one’s own actions. In the short story “On the Sidewalk Bleeding”, Andy struggles with his self-identity. Furthermore, the barber in “Just Lather, That’s All”, battles with his abilities and image of himself. Therefore, both the barber and Andy face an inner conflict as a result of their struggle of determining who they genuinely are, which conclusively results in how their future will unfold.
Throughout the novel the characters are put in these situations which force them to obtain information about the people they thought they knew. The center of finding out who everyone is was brought into play through the death of Marie. The story is told by David, only twelve years old, who sees his family an community in a different light for who they truly are under there cover. By doing his own little investigations, often times eavesdropping, David saw through the lies, secures and betrayals to find the truth.
Before the move to Coghill, Tom wanted his old life back. He sees the accident as the end of his life, though this he seems to have lost connection to his family and his sense of identity. Tom feels guilty and ashamed about the irrevocable consequences of Daniel’s irresponsibility and the impact this had on other people and their families. Retreats into a depressed state which feels empty and black. After the accident, Tom’s life was changed forever.
Then there is the relationship between Charles and Adam. Charles physically and mentally abuses Adam to the extent that he tries to kill him when Charles thinks that their father, Cyrus, loves Adam more. Throughout all this Adam still loves Charles, even after he finds out that Charles and Cathy had slept together and his sons may have even been fathered by Charles. Later in the novel, Adam forgives Charles and writes him a letter to try and put their differences aside, only to find out that Charles has died.
When he first wakes up he just kind of stares at nothing, he can’t respond or even focus on anyone it seems. After the accident he has to learn everything by observing those around him and what they are doing. He also seems to listen to the sounds, expressions, and words they make to try and make sense of what’s going on around him and what are the people doing to him.
Pauls's Case is the story of a young man who struggles with his identity. Paul feels that he knows where he belongs, but his family and teachers refuse to support his choices. In the middle of Paul's Case, there is a switch in narration. At this point, the reader can associate with Paul and his problems. Paul struggles with both internal and external conflicts, causing him to be quite a puzzling character. From tha perspective of his family and teachers, Paul seems abnormal. From his perspective, however, he seems misunderstood.
Bob McKenty suggests in the poem "Adam's Song" that life is not a stationary event, it is forever changing and that in order to handle those changes humor serves as a good buffer. The tone of "Adam's Song" changes distinctly at least three times. McKenty uses rhythm, rhyme, and meter to express the essence of change in the poem and in life.
Tashi's husband Adam symbolized love. He was the only lover of Tashi that we read about. He cared for her and watched over her even when he did not have control over her. Adam may not have been loyal to Evelyn, but he loved her and took care of her. He knew the real Tashi that many people never saw. He was loyal to Tashi, but after the circumcision he would barely ever see her. He was more of a great friend than a good husband was. He lets her know that he loves her several times in the book. At their marriage he cuts the same lines in his face as Tashi had to represent the Olinkans. He goes with her to Mzee's house in Switzerland while she is cured. He also dreams about her and her livelihood, like when she used to say, "But what is it?" when she was happy. Adam, Olivia's brother, was daring at heart. He and Tashi used to go the fields to have sex that was considered very taboo. His mentors were Lisette and Pierre. He learned from them. He was in love with Lisette. She was the contrast to Tashi. She was the opposite of her. Adam probably would have rather lived in France with her, but he stood by Tashi to give her love and affection. Adam was not a bad guy at all. He helped Tashi through the years and was always there whenever she needed somebody. It was unfair of him to be cheating on Tashi with Lisette, and Tashi resented him for that. He was always honest with Tashi though. Adam, like many of the other men in this book, was not a terrible person. He was good at heart.
first things that Ralph, the central character of the novel, does upon his arrival on the
Adam Shepard embarks on his journey, in the pursuit of, “The American Dream”. On his journey, he encounters various risks, threats, and back-breaking jobs. Adam is smart with his money, kind too. Upon his arrival in Charleston he has already met a drunk well known in the town. He spends his money, an act of kindness for this drunk woman. He then is offered a place to stay with her yet refuses. He’s offered another once
In the story Adam finds out from his father that Adam is not his real name and that they are all living a lie. Adam’s father used to be a reporter in New York and he discovered information that can get him and his family killed. So Mr. Grey, the family’s protector, gave Adam’s family all new names, occupation, and lives. All this happened when Adam was three years old. Then one day Mr. Grey contacted his father saying that his family was being targeted and advised him to get away for a couple of days until it was over. They decided to go up North to Vermont. They were riding in the car the whole family singing the Father in the Dell. Then they stopped to see the beautiful view of the mountains. Then all of a sudden they hear a car coming at them and hits all three of them. Adam is still conscious when he hits the floor and all he sees next to him is his mom. His mother’s limb’s are sticking out unnaturally and all he sees are his mother’s glassy eyes staring at him, lifeless. He is losing consciousness, but he sees a blur of gray and hears someone say that his father was gone and that they need to find him fast. Adam is telling all this to Brint and he sings the last part of the Father in the Dell song to
The narrator's life is filled with constant eruptions of mental traumas. The biggest psychological burden he has is his identity, or rather his misidentity. He feels "wearing on the nerves" (Ellison 3) for people to see him as what they like to believe he is and not see him as what he really is. Throughout his life, he takes on several different identities and none, he thinks, adequately represents his true self, until his final one, as an invisible man.
First, Adam is a Mogadorian that is on the bad side. The mogadorians are the ones that want to kill the Loriens. Adam was the one that let all of the loriens that were captured to go free. Adam stays with the lorien and is working with them but all of the Lorien members still don’t know if they can trust him yet. Adam has to slowly earn his trust and make sure that the Loriens can trust him. Throughout the book Adam shows the members that he means no harm and he is there to help. Second, he is the odd one out because no mogadorian has ever even thought about going over to the other side. Adam is the only one that is on the lorien side. He also looks a lot different then all of the lorien members. He has to try to fit in with the lorien and make sure that the mogadorians don’t notice him and kill him. He is also putting himself into a lot of danger in America. When he is not with the other mogadorians. Last, most of the book he has not been trusted because he is a mogadorian. The Loriens were taught to kill all mogadorians that they see. Adam slowly gained their trust but he still hasn’t gotten number four to trust him. Number four feels like he is just waiting for the perfect time to
He ran and got all the three kids out of the water and tried to save them but he couldn’t they were already dead from being drowned by their mother in the pond. His wife went crazy because she would say things are just crawling in her brain and the reason that he went crazy also is because he blames himself for the death of his children. He also killed his wife for what she did to their children whom he loved more than anything and he put her out of her misery. He also blames himself for the death of his children because he never got his wife help for her problem and he never listened to her. This is also the cause of his delirium. He sees his dead wife and his daughter in his dreams and visions because of the guilt he feels everyday, all the time for the death of his family (American Association, 10
While searching for his true identity, the narrator frequently encounters different people who each see him differently. "Who the hell am I?" is the question that sticks with him as he realizes that nobody, not even he, understands who he really is. At some points in his life, identities are given to him, even as he is still trying to find himself. While in the Brotherhood, he was given a "new identity" which was "written on a slip of paper." (Ellison 309) He was told to "starting thinking of [himself] by that name ... so that eve...