Change In Theodore Taylor's The Cay

People’s character changes over time from certain events in their life.In The Cay, by Theodore Taylor, Phillip is the main character, and faces many challenges throughout the novel. Phillip’s character reveals that through trial and tribulation, a once childish person can become caring, brave and independent. Phillip develops care after experiencing the realization that Timothy was making markers on the island for him, as evidenced in the novel when he begins to try and help Timothy everyday. In the beginning Phillip was angry at Timothy when he has Phillip try to help by weaving the mats. “Becoming angry with him, I said,’I tell you, I can’t see.’”(Chapter 9, Taylor 71). “I tried again, but it didn’t work. I stood up, threw the palm fibers

In the beginning of the novel, Phillip is frightened due to his blindness and unfamiliarity with the cay. “I became frightened the minute he said it. I didn’t want to be left alone, and I was afraid that something might happen to him.”(Chapter 8, Taylor 64). “It was, of course, being unable to see that made all the sounds so frightening.”(Chapter 8, Taylor 65). Phillip is afraid of all the noises on the cay, and because he is unable to see anything it makes it more frightening. As the story goes on, Phillip begins developing confidence. He shows this in his attempts to do things himself. “Slowly, I was beginning to know the island. By myself, keeping my feet in the damp sand, which meant I was near the water, I walked the whole way around it.”(Chapter 11, Taylor 79). Phillip is no longer frightened of the sounds on the island. He begins exploring the island by himself to learn each and every sound. By the end of the novel, Phillip is brave. He develops bravery so he can provide something the Timothy really wants. “I think it was the fifth afternoon of this week that I blurted out to TImothy, ‘I’ll climb the palm now.”(Chapter 13, Taylor 98). Phillip was brave, although scared, so that he could get coconuts for Timothy and himself. This trait opened up the path for his last trait to