Moon King's Daughter Emmaline

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Essay

Heroes are sometimes the most ordinary of people. They are often shown as mighty leaders saving the world, yet sometimes, they come from the most unexpected people in the most unexpected places. In Linda Holeman’s novel Search for the Moon King’s Daughter, the protagonist comes in the form of a responsible fifteen year old Victorian girl, Emmaline. Emmaline lives with her mother and brother Tommy in a poor section of Tibbing where she works as a seamstress for her aunt to in order to provide for her family. When her mother sells Tommy to the sweeps in London, Emmaline embarks on a daring journey for her brother and against all odds, manages to save him from his new reality. Emmaline is not one of the typical cliche heroes but it is in …show more content…

Emmaline shows her ability to observe and learn from previous experiences when approaching sweeps on the street, “ Emmaline stepped in front of him, holding out a raisin tart. She’d learned that food was the only way to get close to a climbing boy.” Being older and stronger than the sweeps, Emmaline could have grabbed the climbing boys and forced the answer out of them. Had she not talked to the sweeps, she would not have found out about Tommy’s location, yet in conversing with them, she ran the thin line of being noticed by older sweeps, the prodders, and being reported to the master sweep. Had the Master sweep been Tommy’s, he could have moved streets or prevented Emmaline from finding her brother. Not only does Emmaline use her smarts looking for Tommy, she also makes use of it at the Thorn House. When Master Thorn discovers that Emmaline can read, “ I know you can read, and I’d like to hear you today.’ “ he forms a special bond with Emmaline. If Emmaline hadn’t been able to read, it would have been much harder to from her unique bond with Master Thorn and consequently it would be considerably more difficult to support Tommy and herself after fleeing from Brandy Jack. Knowing Master Eugene does not like his servants being able to read, Emmaline could have easily been thrown out to the streets by him. Had Master Eugene done that, Emmaline, being exposed to the life of a beggar, would have never …show more content…

Emmaline’s courage lets her face against even the most dangerous and frightening people and situations. Her intelligence, ability to observe and to learn gains her useful hints to Tommy and supports her even after running away from Brandy Jack. Emmaline’s spirited determination pulls her through tough and harsh conditions during her search. It is these traits that set Emmaline apart from other heros, making her the one of the most legendary

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