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What is the importance of character development in literature
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In Walter Dean Myers’ “The Treasure of Lemon Brown,” we follow the conversations of two unusual companions, Greg Ridley and Lemon Brown. The authors meaningful play on the word ‘treasure’ gives us a valuable lesson on family. Character development & setting are both designed to reflect and reinforce the characters attitudes and emotions. The character development begins when Greg, to escape a storm, takes shelter in an old, abandoned and dilapidated apartment building. Thus, the story begins to unfold.
In the beginning of the story, we see Greg sitting on his houses’ stoop pondering his father's upcoming lecture. He is also upset and angry for his father will not allow him to play basketball for his grades are not very pleasing. As Greg sits
This book starts from a basic backstory, and then piecemeal goes and becomes a very interesting story that you can’t put down. The first part of the book talks about the main character, Kyle Keely. In his school, there was a competition on who would write a better essay about public libraries. Kyle didn’t know about this until the last minute. He quickly wrote his essay on the way to school and turned it in. Kyle was one of the twelve people who won! Since he won, he, along with eleven other children, would get to see the new public library that was made by Mr. Lemoncello and his assistant Dr. Zinchenko. When the winners arrived at the library, they were immediately greeted by Dr. Zinchenko. They were then greeted with their first challenge. After the first challenge was over, they had a new task at
He explains all his difficulties through his senior year in Cidal college, in South Carolina. His abusive parents, his teammates, his coach all which lead him to become a powerful person. His memoir about his basketball career and the affects he had amongst people caused him to have a magnificent book revealing the insides he had with his teammates. Don Conroy, his abusive father, wasn’t there to keep him going but only held him back from going too far. His coach and his father were people who brought him down into believing there is no good in the world.
Is a book about exactly what the e title says, escaping Mr. Lemoncello’s library? In the book, Kyle, the main character, gets chosen to stay overnight in a new library after sending in an essay as to why he should be picked. When he goes in, though h, not everything is as it seems. Even though his chances of getting picked where low, the hard part isn’t getting in, it’s getting out. The library was made by Mr. Lemoncello, the famous game designer. He creates all kinds of wacky games, and his Libra rye will be no different. The 12 student’s chi open to stay overnight find many things. Games, books, a food area, almost anything. Then, they go to sleep. When they wake up, they all go to the door so that they
While reading The Monkey Wrench Gang, many images appear in one?s mind. The uses of Edward Abbey?s skill of developing characters through language, appearance, actions and opinions make this novel more enjoyable to read. The shaping of each character persuades the reader to believe that, "Oh my desert, yours is the only death I cannot bear."
The novel, The Color of Water follows the author and narrator James McBride, and his mother Ruth’s life. It explores their childhood—when they were both embarrassed by their mothers—through the part of their lives where they began to accept themselves for who they are. Moreover, this memoir is quite distinctive as McBride cleverly parallels his story to his mother, Ruth’s story using dual narration. This technique further helps contribute to the theme of self-identity. Throughout the novel, McBride searches for identity and a sense of belonging that derives from his multiracial family. By using two different narrations, McBride gradually establishes his identity and by integrating both narratives at the end, McBride also shows that although both narrators at the beginning had different upbringings, in the end they came together, and understood each other’s perspective.
Greg values his independence over conforming to what others want him to be, although he feels a tremendous amount of pressure from his family. When Greg asks Sharlene, “Do you think I’m nothing? Do you think you’re nothing?” he demonstrates that he does not want to be what society deems as successful. He does not want a job like a doctor or lawyer, but instead, wants to stand up for a cause he believes in and do what he thinks is right. In a way, it is ironic that Greg is going to school to become a lawyer, yet he protests against the government. Protesting is a way Greg shows his independence to his father, it is a way that he knows he is in control and he can advocate for a something he believes in, instead of doing what he is told. Greg’s confidence suffers after being yelled at by his father for deciding to drop out of university. “Is that all my family can ever do? Point out what’s wrong with me?” Greg says to Sharlene as she follows him out of the house, which shows how he feels that his entire family is against him, but despite the fact that he does not do what his father wants he still leaves the house positive. Giving up on his dreams and going back to school are not options for Greg, so he does not waver in his beliefs and does not allow anyone to push him
The novel, The Color of Water follows the author and narrator James McBride and his mother Ruth’s life, through their childhood—when they were both embarrassed about their mother—through the part of their lives where they began to accept themself for who they are and became proud of it. Moreover, this memoir is quite distinctive as McBride cleverly parallels his story to his mother, Ruth’s story by using dual narration which further helps to contribute to the theme of self-identity. Throughout the novel, McBride searches for identity and a sense of self that derives from his multiracial family and through the use of two different narrations, McBride slowly establishes his identity. Plus by integrating both narratives at the end, McBride also shows that although both narrators at the beginning had different upbringing, in the end they come together and understand each other’s perspective.
James Baldwin’s short story “Sonny’s Blues” illustrates the inner struggle of breaking the hold of lifestyles unfamiliar to those normally accepted by society. Through the use of common fictitious tools such as plot, characters, conflict, and symbolic irony, Baldwin is able to explore the complex difficulties that challenge one in the acceptance of differences in one another. This essay will attempt to understand these thematic concepts through the use of such devises essential in fiction, as well as to come to an understanding of how the particular elements of fiction assist the author in exploring the conflict.
Wilson, M. & Clark, R. (n.d.). Analyzing the Short Story. [online] Retrieved from: https://www.limcollege.edu/Analyzing_the_Short_Story.pdf [Accessed: 12 Apr 2014].
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
Throughout the course of Uncle Tom’s Cabin, numerous characters stand out for their complexity in character. However, only a fraction of those can contend with the memorability and intricacy of Evangeline and Ophelia St. Clare. In the chapters the two become included in, they possess influence over the other characters, including Uncle Tom, the lead protagonist. The individuals obtain stark contrasts between each other, from their personalities to their personal convictions. Additionally, they also vary in the level of character development they undergo in the story.
Hansberry, Lorraine. A Raisin in the Sun. The Norton Introduction to Literature. 10th ed. New York: W.W. Norton & Co., 2011. 950-1023. Print.
Greenblatt, Stephen, and M. H. Abrams. The Norton Anthology of English Literature. 9th ed. Vol. A. New York: W.W. Norton, 2012. Print
If your Daddy can give fifteen dollars you have no business on relief” (Gregory 638). This quote expresses the shame that Gregory feels because he is poor especially since because his teacher is embarrassing him in front of his classmates. There is no doubt that he was being singled out and that no other student had experienced similar treatment from the teacher. She yelled at him because she was impatient and angry with him. It is also suggested by this time that she had completely given up on trying to teach Gregory anything because of his behavioral problems. It is not implied that Gregory’s teacher tried to encourage or help him. Gregory never referred to his teacher as his favorite which is quite the opposite to that of Wilkins. Gregory wanted to get away from her. “I waked out that day and for a long time I didn’t go back very often” (Gregory 638). Gregory was so embarrassed by what his teacher had said to him in front of his classmates, and most importantly to Helen, as a result he did not want to go back to school because there was shame
Many people live a life of mystery. Some can keep their secret well, while others will try to escape their reality and live a life of lies just to fit in. Michael Charbon uses escape as a major theme throughout his book “The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay”. Charbon created multiple characters who face situations in which they need to escape to live a fulfilling life. One of Charbon’s main characters, Sammy Clay, moves his family from the city to the suburbs to escape his secret life, live the American dream, and provide affordable housing for his family.