Crispin The Cross Of Lead: An Analysis

“I kept asking myself if I felt different, if I was different. The answer was always yes. I was no longer nothing…” (Avi 221) This is a famous quote from the historical fiction book Crispin The Cross of Lead, written by Avi. This book is about a boy named Crispin, who goes through many trials and meets many people who help him find his true identity. Through the story Crispin has three “fathers” in his life, Lord Furnival, Bear, and God the Father and he learns several important things from them.
Throughout the story Crispin becomes aware that he wasn’t always alone, he had God the Father with him. At first Crispin thought that God was punishing him for all the things he did wrong but that was the complete opposite. When ever Crispin was in trouble he always prayed and God was always there for him, not like his real father. When Crispin’s father “died” as well as his mother, the only thing Crispin had was his lead cross and God to help him. Also, when Bear was captured, Crispin says this to himself, “Silence was the only voice that could speak to me.” (Avi 209) But Crispin was wrong, he was not alone he had God with him, always.

Next in the story Crispin meets his soon to be life best friend, Bear.

At first Crispin was just a servant to Bear, but later started to get to know him through there travels. Bear helped Crispin to find his true identity, by teaching him to play the recorder and how to have courage. Whenever Crispin needed to ask questions Bear always answered them and every time he answered Crispin always learned something new. One thing Crispin learned from bear was to smile, “ ‘Do you ever smile, boy? he demanded. ‘If you can’t laugh and smile, life is worthless. Do you hear me?’ he yelled. ‘It’s nothing!’” (Avi 73) This is one of the first out of many things Crispin learns from

Bear.
Lastly, is Crispin’s real father Lord Furnival. Lord Furnival was never there for Crispin and never spoke to him, even when he was alive. Crispin could have lived a much better life and his mother might have not died if his father gave them a better home than what they original lived in. Crispin only learned that Lord Furnival was his father by the end of the book so really he never had the connection with his father like he should have. “ ‘But when she quickened with child - you - he abandoned her, leaving orders that she be held in that place. Not, killed, but never allowed to leave.’” (Avi 216) This quote is saying that Lord Furnival abandoned Crispin and his mother and that his mother could never leave the village they stayed at. Originally Crispin thought this was his fault but really it was Lord Furnival’s fault.
Crispin goes through the story with three “fathers”, one that was always with him, God the Father, another one that was never there for him, Lord Furnival, and finally one that will forever be with him, Bear. The “father” that was the most relevant to Crispin’s life was Bear, because he was the only true father figure in his life and Bear taught Crispin lots more things than Lord Furnival ever did. These three “fathers” helped Crispin grow and shaped him to the person he is today.