Stanley's Changes In 'Holes'

Stanley’s Changes
“Two nights later, Stanley lay awake staring up at the star-filled sky. He was too happy to fall asleep” (Sachar 184). The author of the novel Holes, Louis Sachar, made a great story consisting of a “deserted” character trying to live through his normal life with a so called “curse” on him. In the beginning Stanley didn’t like himself, but towards the end he felt like Zero gave him happiness, and then he started to like himself. When he met Zero, his life changed. Zero gave him the euphoria Stanley always longed for.
Before Stanley even came to Camp Green Lake, he didn’t like himself. He had no confidence or joy in himself. “He knew he had no reason to be happy” (184). He had no friends, not at Camp Green Lake and not anywhere. If no one liked him, he had no reason to like himself. “It occurred to him that he couldn’t remember the last time he felt happiness” (184). He was never pleased of himself or other people. “No one liked him, and the truth was, he didn’t especially

like himself” (184). Stanley never had any friends. He always felt isolated, abandoned, and he never had any faith.
In fact, Stanley never had anyone to be his friend, but then Zero came in and gave jubilation to Stanley by his friendship.

“‘I’ll try to teach you to read if you want.’... A big smile spread across Zero’s face” (96). That was when Zero and Stanley became actual friends. Not to mention, they even had a little “imaginary connection” or friendship between them. “Before that he’d been unhappy at school, where he had no friends, and bullies like Derrick Dune picked on him” (184). On the other hand, since Stanley came to Camp Green Lake, Stanley and Zero became friends after a while. Since they’ve gained each other’s friendship and trust, everything had changed for Stanley. Even when Zero was in pain or unconscious, Stanley tried everything for him. “Stanley took hold of Zero’s forearm and pulled him upright” (169). He cared for Zero, because he was his friend. Stanley didn’t want to lose his one and only acquaintance. With his intentions, he helped Zero up the mountain to

safety.
Finally, after all of his experiences with Zero, Stanley started to approve of himself. “He liked himself now” (185). Stanley became more confident about himself when he gained this certain overjoyed feeling. He almost didn't believe it himself. “He wondered if he was delirious” (185). Stanley kept thinking it was too good to be true. Later on in the novel, Stanley and Hector (Zero’s real name) became exceedingly great friends. “There was a small party at the Yelnats house. Except for Stanley and Hector, everyone there was an adult” (229). Stanley was now delighted about himself and he also had a friend, Hector. Stanley and Hector’s friendship could be called, everlasting.
Since the beginning, Stanley never liked himself, but with Zero to stand next to him as a true friend, Stanley felt accomplished and then liked himself. To put it briefly, Stanley actually gained a reason to live in life. He had a friend and a family, since he was out of Camp Green Lake. Therefore, he could return back to his typical life with a friend.