To begin with, language barrier is strongly depicted in the novel, Rules. The characters use different ways, language and words to communicate posing a serious communication barrier. Catherine’s brother, David and her friend Jason Morehouse, find difficulties in communicating because they are mentality disabled. Due to his autism, David has problems forming his own feelings and ideas into original statements. Instead, he has memorized general statements upon which he relies upon, for instance, Catherine makes for him rules and lines from his favorite children’s books. In an event where David says a line from a book to Catherine, he feels disturbed unless Catherine responds with the next line from the book. David constantly tries to communicate in regard to an unchanging, organized …show more content…
system he has developed (Lord, 2013). In this way, he has fear of situations that might change and that are beyond his control, David is unable to master with statements like “maybe,” “it depends,” and “I don’t know” (Lord, 2013). In some ways, Jason, has even greater difficulty in communicating than David: despite the fact that he can understand other people well, he is dump, and communicates by pointing to the word cards he carries with him. His mother and the speech therapist provide him with words that limit his ability to express himself; when Catherine meets Jason for the first time, she learns how challenging it must be “to have to wait for someone to make a word before I could use it.” Consequently, Catherine is devoted to make new word cards for him to improve on the range of communication (Lord, 2013). On the other hand, while David and Jason possess greater difficulties in communicating, Catherine herself is also limited by her willingness to use words to express herself. She purposes to invent and list rules for her brother, but really, the rules are just as much for Catherine herself since she is so afraid of being regarded different that she hides her true feelings behind strict rules of behavior. In the case where Catherine tries to befriend her neighbor Kristi, she remains secretive to keep things private. Catherine has problems expressing her feelings, most likely the negative ones: she cannot tell her mom how much she resents constantly babysitting her younger brother, David (Lord, 2013). Again, friendship is a theme which has gotten it way in the novel. Catherine is trying to strike a friendship with her neighbor, Kristi. She wishes to have a friend in the next-door to accompany her in activities such as swimming and watching television. Moreover, honesty is quite evident in the book.
David expects his Dad to keep to his word after promising to arrive at five o’clock for movies stores which is one of his favorite. Rules is the story of a twelve-year-old girl, Catherine, who is torn between caring for her autistic brother David and finding her own place in life. During one summer vacation, Catherine is busy caring for David and ensures he is out of anguish. Catherine has generated some rules for David, for instance "Say 'excuse me' after you burp" or "You can yell on the playground, but not during dinner." David has little sense of decorum and is easily dismayed by trivial things. Catherine, along with their mother attends David's occupational therapy sessions twice a week (Lord, 2013). Two important events happen early in the summer. A new girl, Kristi, moves in next door, and Catherine strikes up a unique friendship with Jason. Jason attends occupational therapy and is physically deformed, and is dump. Rather, he uses a book of word cards, pointing to cards in sequence to communicate. Catherine is at first overwhelmed and awful of Jason's disability. Kristi is a trendy, "cool" girl that Catherine admires to
befriend. Catherine loves drawing; she draws a few word cards for Jason to put in his book, marking the start of their friendship. Soon, she is drawing many cards for him, each with universally meaningful words and phrases. Meanwhile, Kristi comes over to Catherine's house, and Catherine is scared that David will to some point ruin their developing friendship. Catherine’s friendship with both Jason and Kristi continues. Kristi develops interest in the local boy, Ryan, whom, Catherine hates for mocking David. Kristi plans to go on a double date with Catherine to a community center dance on Saturday (Lord, 2013). Kristi sees a portrait Catherine drew of Jason in her sketchbook and asks Catherine to invite him as her date. Catherine is unable to bring herself to acknowledge that Jason is physically disabled because she fears it might threaten her friendship with Kristi. Catherine is a unique girl due to the fact that she is kind, a true friend who really values friendship. She admires Kristi to be her friend and is worried that the situation of her brother may jeopardize their growing friendship. She is ready to take care of her brother, David, during the summer vacation and ensure he is out of trouble (Lord, 2013). The love for his brother makes her create a list of rules for him. Catherine makes new word cards for his friend Jason to improve on his communication. This makes Catherine unique.
Furious, Zeena demands a more efficient “hired girl” to complete the tasks around the house, meaning that Mattie must leave.... ... middle of paper ... ... Deep irony and tragedy appear numerously throughout the novel. At the beginning of the novel, the narrator learns that the “smash-up” happened “twenty-four years ago from next February”
Summary A Child Called “It” is a story based on a real life little boy ’s tribulations with his mother’s shocking abuse. The first part of Dave's life was idyllic in his memory--he says his family was "the Brady Bunch"--a loving mother and father with whom he enjoyed wonderful holidays and a happy trip to the Russian River. Everyone on the outside thought that David’s family was perfect.
The scenes, which cover thirty years of the characters’ lives from eight to thirty-eight, each revolve around an injury that Doug has acquired through his accident prone life. The play progresses in five year intervals, jumping backwards and forwards, in a nonlinear progression. As they travel and run into each other’s lives, the two characters face new injuries. As the play progresses every five years, a new injury is added to one or both characters. Their lives intersect through these injuries, leading them to compare their wounds, both physical (Doug) and emotional (Kayleen), and drawing them closer together. With each new scene, old injuries and problems may have gotten better or resolved, but some became permanent. Yet, through these experiences, they are bonded together through bloodstains, cuts, and bandages.
In the novel The Chrysalids by John Wyndham it explains the life of a boy named David
...he story with the various characters. Melinda’s acquaintance, Heather works hard at finding friends and becoming popular, but in the end she turns away from Melinda. The story is about the high school years. Many times when we are growing up we can’t wait to get there because we will be treated as adults, but the truth is the problems that come along when we are older can be difficult. The various clans of students help present the theme by showing us that there are many different types of people. The popular cheerleaders, the jocks, the geeks and those who are just trying to fit in. Melinda transforming the janitor’s closet symbolizes her hiding her feelings and Melinda’s inability to speak and tell people what happened to her. High school can be fun but unfortunately through the eyes of Melinda it was a very hard time.
David was known to dangerous jobs because of his strength. On one particular occasion he was fixing a barn, and he happened to fall from a great height and at first was proclaimed unhurt.3 For several days, he had a headache which progressively got worse and those several days turned into weeks. Soon he was diagnosed with a fever by a doctor and the only way to cure him was if blood was drawn. This affected Clara greatly because from a young age she had formed a very strong and unbreakable bond with her brother.3 This bond enabled her to remain by her brothers side day and night, and she “learned to take all directions for his medicines from his physician (who had eminent counsel) and to administer them like a genuine nurse.”3 She took care of him for two years until he was sent to a doctor for treatment. During this particular incident, was when she willingly let go of her own needs to meet her brothers needs.3 Caring for her brother gave Clara a purpose and after he was healed “instead of feeling that my freedom gave me time for recreation or play, it seemed to me like time wasted, and I looked anxiously about for some useful occupation”3 this what helped her come to the conclusion that helping others helped her get rid of the shy and timid nature that had held her back for so long. Her shy and timid nature was caused by a speech impediment she had known as a lisp. Her lisp caused her to feel self-conscious and insecure disabling her from talking to people but with the help of her family Clara was able to overcome it. In an attempt to help Clara overcome her fear, her parents sent her to a boarding school, believing that Clara would lose her timid characteristic if thrown amidst strangers.3 After Clara was sent home for not eating was when she realized the importance of overcoming her timid nature as
David must pretend, not just for the remainder of the novel, but for the next forty years, to be ignorant of Frank’s crimes, and much of what is happening because his parents do not realise that he has overheard their discussions.
The main characters are David, his mother, and father. David, the abused child, cannot escape his mother’s punishments. David’s mother is a drunken, abusive mother that refers to her child as “It”. David’s father is caring and understanding, but cannot help David escape. The mother and father drastically change after the alcohol abuse. David also changes in his attitude towards his parents.
Other examples of physical abuse which David received included the never ending punches from his mother when she felt they were acceptable, when in truth, they were for pure pleasure. Also, the burning incident his mother performed on him because “[He] made [her] life a living hell!” and it was “time [she] showed [him] what hell [was] like!” (Pelzer, 28). This incident David depicted for the reader included his mother forcefully placing his arm above a burning flame upon the kitchen stove. The physical abuse David endured was one in which he would never forget. Luke and Banerjee state that children who are abused physically are more likely to develop “problematic peer relationships” aside from their peers who do not receive maltreatment. David is an
Child abuse was still on the verge of emerging like mental illness, there were no laws or rights being enforced to protect those against neglect or abuse. Furthermore, all the marks that were present of David’s body had to be cause by more than he was admitting being no one else witnessed the abuse. For instance, when Catherine tried to have David eat the defecated diaper, the abuse stopped when Ron, Stan, and David 's father came back to the vacation cabin (Pelzer, 1995, pp. 57). It was a risky long drawn out rescue mission, but if Catherine had assumed a social case was being built on David’s behalf she may have killed him before he had a chance to realize it. I could not envision myself in a situation of that nature, yet as a person concerned about the well-being of a child, I would have done my own personal questioning to David. I understand teachers have to adhere to protocol, but if you notice everyday your student smells or looks unhealthy, you have to investigate as too why, especially if the mother looks glamorous during a parent teacher conference while the child dresses like a hobo. You may want to question why? Stephen, David 's father was the main person in authority with an opportunity to prevent maltreatment. David 's father stood by watching his son use a five-gallon bucket to relieve his diarrhea. When David was forced to eat
The major themes related directly to the entire context of the story. The formidable mother-daughter conflict going on throughout the story exposed the clash of their cultural roots. The conflict showed the theme where the mother does not understand the game of chess and does not accept Waverly playing it. Also, it showed it when Waverly felt embarrassed by her mother using her as a trophy metaphorically. Another theme is the symbolic games of chess that Waverly played. Without the use of symbolism the story would have lost a major impact on the plotline. Also, Amy Tan used setting to her advantage to fully show the tone of the story and created a scene of emotion. Its major theme of mother-daughter relationship made it possible for young children to relate the short story to their own
Dave’s mother claims that she saw Dave playing on the grass which is forbidden. However, Dave never played on the grass at school. It didn’t matter whether he did or did not, because his mother already had a plan. She told him that she read an article that a mother had her son lie on top of a hot stove and she wanted to test it out. She gripped his arm and put it the flames burning his skin. The reward of playing on the grass was a burned arm. It Another incident happened the summer of 1971, by now Dave knew what to do and what not to do to receive his mother’s punishments. The punishments would vary from no food, a slap in the face if he looked at anyone without permission, and if caught stealing food he would be forced to vomit it and eat or something worse. One episode of abuse that stood out for me was the stabbing. The day for Dave was one of the worst punishments ever. As he sat on his hands on the bottom of stairs towards the basement waiting for ‘the family’ eat and wait until he was called to clear the table. This was a normal occurrence and also praying to receive anything to clinch his hunger. He
David growing up as a child lived in a house where there was no love shown or caring relationships. He grew up not knowing what good relationships looked like or felt like. David did not think too highly of his dad or aunt and always had
Walter introduces readers to his characters in such a way that it seems like a movie. He allows the characters personalities to grow as the novel progresses and they intersect with other characters. The main characters are Pasqual Tursi, Richard Burton, Debra “Dee” Moray, Alvis Bender, Michael Deane, Shane Wheeler, Claire Silver, and Pat Bender. These eight character’s stories provide the plot line to the book. Some stories are tragic and others hopeful, but all depend on one another at some point during the course of the novel. Walter shows how peoples lives can intersect...
In the Newbery Honor winning book, Rules, the main character, Catherine, wants a normal life. Which is almost impossible because of her little brother, David, who is autistic. David has to have rules to keep him out of trouble. Catherine has had to make the rules for David from “No toys in the fish tank” “Keep your pants on in public”. He has to go to something called OT. At OT, Catherine meets a boy named Jason, who she likes to make speaking cards for. In the summer, Catherine’s best friend, Melissa, goes to California on vacation. Because of this, Catherine wants another girl her age to hang out with, because David embarrasses her all the time. One time she was having a sleepover with Melissa and when her mom and David came to pick her up,