Milo In Norton Juster's Phantom Tollbooth

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Imagine a place where the air is filled with tiredness, your body moving through what it feels like molasses, your mind thoughts flying through the air like a dandelion. The feeling of not being able to do anything would be in a place called the Doldrums, where the main character Milo in the book Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster, travels through the Doldrums. In Milo's travels towards Dictionopolis, he reaches a place called the Doldrums. As he continues driving on passively, he learns that time is slowing down to the point where he stops moving. Milo learns that he is wasting time and changes throughout the passage by learning the importance of his thoughts and time itself. Justin helps the reader understand the importance of Milo being …show more content…

"'You see', continued another in a more conciliatory tone, 'its really quite strenuous doing nothing all day, so once a week we take a holiday and go nowhere, which was just where we were going when you came along. Would you care to join us? I might as well, thought Milo". Throughout the passage, Milo grows as a character with the help of a watchdog. The watchdog, who has a literal watch on his body, keeps time moving and helps Milo understand the importance of not killing time. Because of this, Milo's car begins to move again and he learns the importance of time, "We're moving, we're moving, he shouted happily. Keep thinking, scolded the watchdog. In a few moments they were out of the Doldrums and back on the main highway. All the colors had returned to their original brightness...most of all, of how much could be accomplished with just a little thought. And the dog, his nose in the wind, just sat back, watchfully ticking." Milo being able to think his way out of the Doldrums is an important part in the book because it provides the reader the understanding of Milo's character and who he is. Milo being able to be a character who can learn and grow is essential throughout the book as he is able to be a better and happier person at the

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