Throughout “Freak the Mighty,” author Rodman Philbrick creates a powerful friendship between two completely opposite characters. Maxwell is a very large, learning disabled son of a murderer that struggles with anger. Kevin, or Freak, is a physically incapable genius. On their own, each boy struggles with his limitations. But when they become friends, no one can stop them. Together they conquer bullies, kidnappers,and even themselves. With a friend to fight alongside, one can do almost anything.
First , Max and Freak are able to outwit and outrun bullies together. Before their friendship, both struggled with other “normal” children’s teasing. Max was called cruel names, and pestered about his convicted father. Kevin picks up the nickname “Freak” from his below average stature. But when they get together, not even the town troublemakers, Tony D. “Blade” and his gang, can defeat Freak the Mighty. When they attempt to harass Freak the Mighty at an Independence Day celebration, Freak’s quick thinking and Max’s tall stature save the day. In fact, they turn the tables around so drastically that Tony D. is the one struggling. “Finally I get so I’m facing back at the shore and there’s Blade, just his head above the water and he looks all
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white and scared.” (Philbrick 37). Together, Max and Freak solve issues they never could on their own. In addition to bullies, Freak the Mighty conquers more serious criminals.
Max’s father, Killer Kane, is released from jail on parole, believed to be a changed man. But he abducts Max on Christmas Eve, and holds him captive. Without Freak, Max is helpless. “Like I’m paralyzed and my head is empty and all there is in the world is that big hand and this cool breath like the wind.”(Philbrick 100). Max is taken by Killer Kane because he lacks the courage to oppose him without Freak. But Freak the Mighty is soon reunited as Freak defeats Killer Kane with soap, vinegar, and curry powder in a squirt gun. Max grabs Freak and, with his enhanced physical abilities, escapes. Without either of them, the other would be
helpless. No matter how many bullies or convicts Freak the Mighty escaped and defeated, the most important victory was conquering themselves. Max is stuck in his own world without Freak, unable to learn anything. But Freak is able to teach Max more than anyone else could. “I never had a brain until Freak came along and let me borrow his for a while, and that’s the truth, the whole truth.” (Philbrick 1). Max overcomes his learning disability with the help of Freak. And he, in return, is able to provide Freak with a physically capable body. One of the things that meant the most to Freak was simply riding on Max’s shoulders. Though Max and Freak are opposites by stature and intelligence, they perfectly complete each other. While Max and Freak struggle on their own, they make an almost unbeatable team. Freak the Mighty is smarter and stronger than tormentors and criminals, but more importantly, gives the other just what they lack. What Max lacks in brains, he makes up for in brawns. Likewise, Freak gives Max his intelligence in exchange for physical abilities. On their own, both Freak and Max struggle due to their disability. But together, Freak the Mighty is an unstoppable force.
Before going to Alaska, Chris McCandless had failed to communicate with his family while on his journey; I believe this was Chris’s biggest mistake. Chris spent time with people in different parts of the nation while hitchhiking, most of them whom figured out that McCandless kept a part of him “hidden”. In chapter three, it was stated that Chris stayed with a man named Wayne Westerberg in South Dakota. Although Westerberg was not seen too often throughout the story, nevertheless he was an important character. Introducing himself as Alex, McCandless was in Westerberg’s company for quite some time: sometimes for a few days, other times for several weeks. Westerberg first realized the truth about Chris when he discovered his tax papers, which stated that “McCandless’s real name was Chris, not Alex.” Wayne further on claims that it was obvious that “something wasn’t right between him and his family” (Krakauer 18). Further in the book, Westerberg concluded with the fact that Chris had not spoken to his family “for all that time, treating them like dirt” (Krakauer 64). Westerberg concluded with the fact that during the time he spent with Chris, McCandless neither mentioned his
The main characters in this story are 6 friends from Cedarville Middle School, a crooked businessman, and a Doberman Pincher. Griffin Bing is, “The Man With The Plan,” and he organizes the missions this group of friends get involved in. Ben Slovak is Griffins best friend and he has a ferret that goes everywhere with him to help him with his narcolepsy or sleep disorder. Pitch Benson is an expert at mountain climbing and she helps them get into impossible places. Melissa Dukakis is a computer expert which comes in handy for eves dropping. Logan Kellerman is an actor and he is good at distracting people. Savannah Drysdale is an animal whisperer which has helped them get past guard dogs. S. Wendell Palomino or, “Swindle” is a crooked businessman who has caused these friends a lot of problems. Luthor is a huge temperamental Doberman who be...
An example of their adventures is when Kevin mouths at Tony D. and his gang, defending Max and himself; after of which he discovers that Max could not have fought Tony and incredulously questions, “You mean you couldn’t take him and I was giving him lip?” (31). Kevin’s words reveal his trust in Max. He incited Tony, believing Max would be able to protect the both of them. The boys’ next conflict, an encounter with Iggy, the head of a troublemaking motorcycle gang, and Loretta, his wife, show Max’s concern for Kevin and his wanting to keep Kevin safe: “I feel real bad for Freak because he hated it when people try to rub his head for luck, but I don’t say a word, I just run us home, thumping the short way back around the pond, and my big feet never trip me up because I’m on automatic, I’m this running machine” (72). Max is very attuned and sensitive to Kevin’s feelings, an important quality in a friendship. Also, his desire to protect Kevin and keep him away from Iggy and Loretta prevent his clumsiness from impeding his speedy progress to home. The conflicts Freak the Mighty encounter prove the boys’ undeniable teamwork and
Freak the mighty is a very unique book. In the book there are 2 main characters, Max and Freak. Max is big and a little dumb while Freak is tiny but very smart. Although they are very different , they become the best of friends. Feak is unable to walk so he rides on Max’s back. Theygo on many adventures, Freak will be the navigator and Max will listen to Freak. Max’s father is a criminal named Killer Kane. His father going to be on parole because he was good in prison. Max is now worried because his father might come back.
...ane just did not know how to show this at times that were tough for him. Killer Kane still is protective, cares about Max, and wants the best for him. When Killer Kane came back to see Max when he could have been arrested was showing he cared and loved Max enough to be arrested again right when he got out of jail. Killer Kane showed that he is protective of Max when Loretta tried to untie Max and Killer Kane snapped at her to not put her hands on his son. He showed that he wanted the best for Max when he said he wanted to start a life with Max. Killer Kane just wanted Max to have the father figure he needed in his life. Killer Kane listens, suggests, defends. Is patient, loving and loyal. He would do anything for Max, He wants the best for Max, and protects Max. In the novel, Freak The Mighty by Rodman Philbrick Killer Kane is truly a loving father and he proves it.
From the hood life, ghetto neighborhood, Three African-American made a pact to become successful doctors and face the obstacles that can lead them to down fall together. The Pact, a memoir written by Dr. Sampson Davis, George Jenkins, and Rameck Hunt, describes their story in the 1980s of becoming doctors and the struggle that they faced. The three Young men were each other’s motivator. They followed each other’s steps and helped themselves succeed. One of them is Sampson Davis, a kid who grew up in those bad circumstances but still made it through that path and became a doctor.
Who was once a hero, was now the villain in many regards; he was the protagonist at first, and after, became the antagonist after his fortune took over his morality. Henry Ford had well-meaning intentions at first. Truly wanting to connect the world, he wanted to create a car that everyone can afford and be able to enjoy. Although he achieved his goal of creating this car, the model T, several unintentional controversial ideologies were established along with it.
People have goals everyday, believe it or not some people think that dreams aren't worth it. I believe that it is worth it to dream because it gives a person a goal, it makes them feel good, and it makes them stronger. I know this from The Pearl, A Cubs video, the Susan Boyle video, and We Beat the streets.
Max (over-sized and learning disabled seventh grader) and Freak (undersized brainiac) both start off with no friends. They both
His father kills his mother, then the father goes to jail and Max gets stuck with his grandparents. Max is lost, needs a friend desperately and needs help. He even admits it on the first page, “I never had a brain until Freak came along.” He always thought that his head was empty. “Not that I have any ideas. My brain is vacant” (6). He said he was brainless, stupid, couldn’t learn… He did not believe in himself and Freak came along to help him understand that there is an “...unlocked door just waiting for you to open it.” -Unknown
Christopher Johnson McCandless, the main character in the book “Into the Wild,” had made a lot of friends even though he did not like people. Wayne Westerberg was one of Chris’s friends who he met in a bar. Chris also befriended a girl named Jan Burre. Another person who befriended Chris was a guy named Ronald Franz,
There are many people that believe that working together can build a strong friendship. Kevin and Max go back to school. There, Max is mistaken for a giant, unintelligent, young boy until Freak says that Max knows the answers. Just that he is too shy to say them in front of the class. So, the teacher had him write down the answers to the problems and show them to her after class. She sees that Max is just as smart as everyone else, so then she lets Max move
Freak has Morquio Syndrome which made him very small, and Max has Learning Disabilities and “was the size of a giant” which made people never open themselves up to Freak and Max. Those two didn’t really achieve anything until they became friends. In the realistic fiction novel, Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick he told a compelling story about Friendship, determination, and imagination. I believe the theme of this novel of the book is if you put your mind into it, you can
Many people struggle to be accepted in our world because of disabilities. Freak the Mighty, by Rodman Philbrick, is a dramatic and inspiring novel about how two boys, who are “different”, become friends and unite towards a common cause. Kevin, an eighth grader who lives with his mother Gwen, is one of the two protagonists in this extraordinary novel. Kevin is a very knowledgeable young boy who doesn't let his disability limit his abilities.
Imagine going to a new school where there is a student who has more power and control of the class than the teacher. This person stops all drama, helps students, and resolves all the problems. They would be considered a hero to the class. In the book Our Twisted Hero, by Yi Munyol, the antagonist, Om Sokdae, is this person and the twisted hero. Om is the twisted hero because he helps the students get out of trouble but uses them for his advantage.