The Character of Adeline from Falling Leaves

The Character of Adeline from Falling Leaves

Adeline is quite a likable character. The reader is encouraged to

empathize with her right from the

beginning of Chapter 6 of the autobiography "Falling Leaves". The

reader sees everything from Adeline's

point of view, and the injustice Adeline suffered was very serious

indeed; it makes the reader angry and

indignant despite the fact that he/she is powerless and could not have

helped Adeline in any way. Adeline

presents herself as a constrained, mistreated person; unloved partly

because she was the cause of her

mother's death. Neither she nor her siblings really experienced the

love that all their classmates

apparently had in abundance at home; it seems they did not even love

each other much. The only time

they were united was when they were plotting against their father and

stepmother. This and the love

Adeline, her YeYe and Aunt had for each other was the closest Adeline

had to a family. However,

notwithstanding this lack of love, Adeline did not seem to be bitter

or angry with much; neither did she feel

self-pity. She appears a selfless, loyal, persistent and bright

person.

It is clear from the start of this chapter that Adeline was a

hardworking student. Her grades in

school are a clear indication of this: "At school I gained the

nickname 'genius' because I came top in every

subject…" (p.6o). The reader can understand that Adeline found solace

in her studies. "I studied

hard…because this was the only time I could lose myself…and

momentarily escape from this home so full

of sinister maneuverings." (p. 60). She also worked ha...

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... was not happy. Does that

not show us she must have been a

spoiled brat who did not know the meaning of "thank you"? No, because

Adeline's parents overlooked one

thing, despite all they gave Adeline. They did not love her. The

reader can observe how hungry for love

Adeline was in this chapter. We can see how much gratitude even the

smallest gesture of kindness caused,

because Adeline knew that kindness could indicate love. Despite her

parents and siblings, in this chapter

Adeline could have been compared to an orphan. Still, she is to be

admired rather than pitied, because

she had great courage and determination. She took all her energy and

invested it in hard work and hope

for the future, rather than bitterness or self-pity. Perhaps that is

why she survived even though no one

loved her.