In Maniac Magee written by Jerry Spinelli, the main character is Jeffrey Magee. Jeffrey's parents were killed when he was only three years old. He got sent to his Aunt Dot’s and Uncle Dan’s house but he got fed up with having two of everything. So he decided to leave and live on his own. By that time he was getting bullied by people who disliked him very much. He then ended up at the Beale’s house and was taken in for awhile until he decided to move on to a new place. In this book Jeffrey is stubborn, helpful, and independent and is having trouble finding out where he belongs in the world. First, Maniac Magee shows that he is stubborn at the beginning of the book. Maniac becomes fed up with his Aunt Dot and Uncle Dan making him live in a house that was divided. “Never again to return to the house of two toasters. Never again to return to school” …show more content…
(Spinelli 7). In this part of the story, the reader learns that Maniac Magee is not going to stand for situations that make him feel upset or uncomfortable. Next, Jeffrey shows that he is helpful in part one of Maniac Magee. He never once had to be asked to do anything around the house and is agreeable. “He played with the little ones and read them stories and taught them things. He took Bow Wow out for runs and he did dishes without anyone asking him” (Spinelli 45). In this section of the novel, the reader knows that Jeffrey will be willing to do something that someone may need help with in the future. Finally, Maniac Magee shows that he is independent in the first couple pages of the book.
When he decided to leave his Uncle’s and Aunt's House he was by himself and proved to the readers that he can be on his own. “Sure two hundred miles is a long way, especially on foot, but the year that it took him to cover it was about fifty-one weeks more than he needed figuring the way he could run even then” (Spinelli 8). Maniac shows that he is able to be on his own and take care of himself even for a whole year without anyone to love him and support him. In this story Jeffrey shows that he is stubborn, helpful, and independent through his life experiences. Jeffrey’s parents were killed when a train went off its tracks. So he was an orphan and his Aunt and Uncle were there to take him in for eight years. Then he had enough with the two of them not talking to each other and lives on his own for a year. Until he found the Beales and they helped him feel welcome for sometime until he moved out and moved on again. Jeffrey is the main character written by Jerry Spinelli shows that Jeffrey can't really figure where he belongs in the
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involved troubling situations. Look at how she grew up. The book starts off during a time of Jim
First, Rudy’s family didn’t believe in him. Rudy’s background was a struggle, because his family, especially his father, didn’t expect much from him, coming from a common family in a small town. His father expected for him to get a job at a local factory after his high school graduation and follow in his footsteps. He doesn’t believe Rudy will achieve his dreams. When Rudy returns home to see his family, they mock him for ...
As he goes up to get his diploma, his 2 favorite girls in his life, Renee Albert and his girlfriend Annette, clap for him. As they walk out he sees Jeffrey with his beautiful blond curls. Steven’s year has been chaotic and crazy. As he thinks back to his writing prompt, “The most annoying thing in the world,” he realizes that Jeffery is not the most annoying thing in the world, but living without him would be. This story shows that when life throws you into a big mess, all you can do is grow and become stronger than the situation you are in. Life moves on and things will always get
Throughout the story, the narrator learns how important it is to Sonny for him to care and listen to him. Sonny is vulnerable and in a state where he is getting into trouble with drugs and alcohol perhaps because he feels as though no one cares enough to help him. The narrator lives his life as a teacher while Sonny spends his days using drugs hoping someday to pursue his dreams of music. Both characters end up in a place they are meant to be; acting as family and leaning on each other for support, which is the true importance of an older brother.
Jeffrey’s father is dead, his lifetime was brought to an end too soon, most likely from being overweight, and he was left alone with no surviving family members. Yet, for the most part of the short story he is calm, rational, and passive until he finally lashes out. Jeffrey may have been ostracized by his peers in his teen years due to him being slightly on the heavier side.
This story gives the readers the feeling of ambitions. There might be some misguided individuals out there that have an similar lifestyle to McCall and reading this book would potentially help them seek desire for success. Growing up McCall had intentions of being different. For instance, while he was in prison he recalled back to the time he study so hard for Mr. Brown test. Even his parents knew he was different because out of everyone around his neighborhood he was the only one who attended a white school. Then when he attended a black school he wanted to learned, but got caught in society. Prison was a good place for him because to occupy his time he start reading and learning. Additionally, prison help him develop a sense of inner discipline and self worth. Gail Jardine stated that “ Makes Me Wanna Holler is a journey not just from degradation to accomplishment, but also from absence to self-determined”. This shows that the book gives the readers more than excitement and the urge to want to keep reading, but also try to find your place in
The narrator whose name is unknown finds out that his brother Sonny was incarcerated for the use of and dealing heroin, raised in a society where being afraid of fear is constantly affecting both of their life’s in turmoil. “He was frightening me a little” (Baldwin 19). Fear shaped the older brother in becoming an Algebra teacher, endeavoring to save his younger brother from a lifestyle of street habits, influence specifically on drug abuse. According to the narrator, he expects Sonny to follow his footsteps in finishing an education because “If you don’t finish school now, you’re going to be sorry later that you didn’t” (Baldwin 20), in addition the narrator describes the life of Sonny “weird and disordered” (Baldwin 21). The narrator uses his fear to form a communication with his brother, however Sonny’s decision of freedom in becoming a professional musician, and escaping misfortunate moments is not in communion. Thus, Sonny feels neglected by his older brother’s expectations and judgments based on his own future. “I think people ...
The narrator allows Sonny to move into his apartment. By allowing Sonny to live with him he has allowed to trust him again. For example, the narrator explains, “The idea of searching Sonny’s room made me still. I scarcely dared to admit to myself what I’d be searching for. I didn’t know what I’d do if I found it. Or if I didn’t” (pg. 91). This shows how the narrator had the opportunity to search his brother’s room, but had the ability not to. Tension grew among brothers while living under one roof. This starts the climax of both arguing in the apartment. The narrator doesn’t understand why his brother wants to be a musician. This argument was built of emotion both had and not yet discussed among each other. Such as the narrator expressing his anger towards his brother’s drug use and Sonny’s frustration towards the narrator not understanding his plan to become a jazz musician. For example, the narrator states, “I realized, with this mocking look, that there stood between us, forever, beyond the power of time or forgiveness, the fact that I had held silence – so long! – when he had needed human speech to help him” (pg.94). The argument with his brother made him realize that he abandon his younger brother when he needed him the most. He realized that if he would have spoken out and talk about his drug use that he wouldn’t have to go
In Jerry Spinelli’s Maniac Magee. One of Maniac Magee’s characters traits is collaboration. In the book on page, seven Maniac Magee meet Amanda Beale. Then later Maniac Magee really wanted to read one of Amanda Beale’s books so later Maniac Magee cooperated with Amanda so when he was done reading Maniac Magee would give the back book Amanda Beale let him borrow. This shows one of Maniac Magee’s character trait is collaboration because he made a deal with Amanda Beale when he was done with the book he would give it back to Amanda Beale. Another example of Maniac Magee being collaborative. Is on page 21 is when Maniac Magee gave Amanda Beale her book back. This shows one of Maniac Magee character traits is collaboration is because Maniac Magee
The eldest brother who is also the narrator of the story gives the reader a glimpse into their lives and the struggles that he and his younger brother Sonny go through. Through the narrators eyes Baldwin does a wonderful job showing how the brothers grew up to lead different lives but are both still struggling from the hold that poverty in Harlem has on them. Baldwin shows how both “the narrator and Sonny are both imprisoned and also free in exactly opposites ways” (spark note). For example, Sonny has physically been imprisoned due to his addiction to drugs but was able to escape from Harlem and create his own life through music. Whereas the narrator is physically free but trapped in the housing projects of Harlem which he clearly hates. It is Baldwin’s unique style of writing that has the characters asking themselves the question, “Does one embrace the hand that they are dealt in order to live or does one bow down and allow it to consume them?” Baldwin shows how each brother at different times in their life allowed for it to do both. For instance, in the beginning Sonny seemed to be consumed by his suffering which led him down the path of drugs but by the end he had embraced it and let his suffering playout through music. The narrator on the other hand seemed to embrace everything that he was dealt and did the best he could to better his life.
Jeffrey was a slave that had a betrothed named Dorcas and Dorcas loved him back. Jeffery wanted her to be bought with him so that they could be together forever. Harris was a slave prepared to escape to freedom. Jeffrey and Harris were both dedicated to what they wanted. Jeffrey went up to the
In the book Maniac Magee, the author, Jerry Spinelli, developed Amanda Beale as a driven young lady. One example of Amanda being initiative is on page ten when she was heading to school with a bag full of books and she was going to be late for school. That's when she saw Maniac run past her and come towards her, instead of running away for the being that he was a stranger and she was driven to get to school, she stayed with him and talked to him for a while promptly until she remembered the fact of being late. She then told him she had to go but when he asked her if he could borrow a book, she quickly opened her bag, threw the book to him since she was more driven than ever to get away for the reason to get to school, and ran away. This
In the book Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli Grayson was kind-hearted to other characters. The Author developed Grayson's character trait when Maniac asked for a favor. Grayson was a little worried about what he was going to say at first, but it turned out all he wanted was some butterscotch krimpets. Grayson fed him a lot before, so he was a little surprised. Grayson still took Maniac to the store. Maniac, or Jeffory should I say, got a whole box of krimpets! Both of the boys were so happy after that. This demonstrates that Grayson is kind-hearted because Grayson is feeding him because he is making sure that Maniac is doing ok because he is homeless. Later on in the story Grayson’s kind-hearted character trait was developed when Maniac asked
Myra, in My Mortal Enemy, chooses to forsake a life of affluence so that she can marry Oswald Henshawe. As the ramifications of her decision set in, Myra increasingly displays her discontent for her reduced social standing and disposable income. She flaunts her wealth to a significantly poorer family by telling Oswald she got rid of his new dress shirts, because she didn’t like the way they looked on him. Oswald's expression shows “bitterness”(Cather, 8) towards his wife for acting superior to the people of Parthia, Illinois. Myra's actions expose her lust for wealth, and her regret in disobeying her uncle's wishes. By marrying Oswald, Myra broke the socioeconomic barrier and escaped the enclosed space of world that her uncle confined her