Character
Lee is a very smart man who often cares for others, not usually like himself. He is very much like Atticus from To Kill A Mockingbird. An example of this is when Lee talks to Samuel for the first time. "...went to school and several years to the University of California" (164). This shows Lee having a quality education just like Atticus who was a lawyer. An example of Lee cares for the twins while Adam is in shock over Cathy's departure. "...but Lee was a busy man. He cooked and washed, he bathed the twins and fed them. Through his hard and constant work he grew fond of the two little boys" (252). Even though taking care of children was not in Lee's job description, he did anyway. Atticus had to do the same thing with Scout and Jem after their mother died. Lee and Atticus both believe that its a sin to hate others or yourself blindly. They also believe sins can be repented.
Setting
Near the end of story, the story starts taking place during World War I. This adds tension between the characters (main or minor) during the book. One situation where the war affects the characters is when Adam finds out that Aron has died in the war. "Your brother is dead...Your father has had a stroke" (594). Due to the war, Aron died, making Adam have a stroke which (possibly) kills Adam. Another example is when the narrator describes the affects of the war to people in that time period. "That winter of 1917-1918 was a dark and frightened time.... The war seemed hopeless...We learned then that war was not a quick heroic charge but a slow, incredibly complicated matter... many people were preparing in their minds and spirits for a lost war" (572). The war had negative affects on the people, even though most hadn't saw it that way.
Plot
Many surprising things happened during part four of the book. Some of the most surprising things involved the deaths of Cathy and Adam. Cathy for one takes her own life. "Gingerly, she fished the chain out from her bodice, unscrewed the little tube, and shook the capsule into her hand. She smiled at it...And her heart beat solemnly and her breathing slowed as she grew smaller and smaller and then disappeared—and she had never been" (554). Cathy commits suicide by taking the drug in her locket. Another surprising death was the death of Adam. "His eyes closed and he slept" (602). Adam (supposedly) takes his last breath while talking to Lee and Cal. These deaths were certainly shocking. The shocking part was that they died, it was how they died that truly mattered and truly affected readers.
Conflict
As one of the very few female characters in the story, it seems as though Abra has a lot of issues internally and externally. An internal struggle Abra has is when she starts to think about how Aron really views her. "It’s the same way he tore me up—Abra—when he wanted to be a priest" (578). Aron viewed Abra as pure and innocent in a world full of dirtiness, but she obviously didn't feel the same way. An example of an external conflict is when Abra's father is "sick". "For example, she knew that her father was not ill. He was hiding from something" (579). Abra knows something is up with her father which adds tension in her household. Even though Abra is faced with all these problems, she manages to accept them and move on with her life which is a quality I admire.
Theme
The biggest and most important theme that was replayed throughout the story was timshel. Timshel basically means if you want to you can. "His whispered word seemed to hang in the air: Timshel!" (602). Charles tells Adam what he did to Aron and begs for forgiveness. Adam says (in one whole word) that he must forgive himself or choose what to do about it. Another example of timshel being used is when Lee talks to Charles about what he did to Aron. "We all have that heritage, no matter what old land our fathers left. All colors and blends of Americans have somewhat the same tendencies. It’s a breed—selected out by accident. And so we’re overbrave and overfearful—we’re kind and cruel as children" (570). Lee is saying that even our family members act a type of way it doesn't mean we'll turn that way too. In the book, timshel refers to sins, but I don't think that's the case. You can choose who you want to be. You can choose what you want to do. There is nothing holding you back from becoming who you want to be or achieving what you want.
Author's Style
John Steinbeck's use of narration was so unique, it made me look up the exact term. I found that the story is actually told in first person with Steinbeck as a peripheral narrator meaning that he tells the story, but is not a main character. "My little sister and I..." (518). John Steinbeck actually includes a scene with him and his sister when they were young, which is really rare. Another example is when the same scene, but he reflects on the war. "Nothing to say, nothing to do, and only one hope—I hope he didn't suffer—and what a forlorn and last-choice hope that is" (519). Steinbeck talks about the war and it affected others. The main reason why I liked this narration was because it was the same narration as To Kill A Mockingbird which was very interesting.
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