Annmarie In 'Number The Stars'

Janie respects but challenges these values that her Nanny taught her throughout her three marriages. Opposed to how Janie was raised to be oppressed by men, I was raised to think for myself and be open to new opportunities.

The main way in which Steinbeck shows the theme of good versus evil is the character’s divergent personalities. The main good character of the novel is Samuel Hamilton, a poor farmer who raised nine children on little to no income. Despite the fact that his customers do not pay him money for his labor – blacksmithing, well digging – he is still gracious and kind to everyone he meets. He sees through Cathy’s façade to the true core of her evilness. Cathy Ames is the evil character who has no conscious as she uses Adam Trask (protagonist) to move to Salinas after sleeping with his brother, trying to abort her babies, shooting Adam in the shoulder and leaving him alone with their twin sons, and secretly killing a brothel owner so she can take control. She is described as being “as close to pure evil as one is likely to get this side of hell” (Aubrey). Adam is always struggling between these two characters in the novel, representing his personal struggle with good versus evil. He is enamored with Cathy, or who he thinks Cathy is, and is left in an extreme state of depression upon

Throughout the book Janie struggles to find the true definition of love and how to make herself happy with her relationships. She goes through several different ideas of love before finding that it is mutual compassion, understanding, and respect that makes her the most happy.

Maturity is a huge part of growing up and in those two books that one or two of the characters did mature throughout the books. The characters have to find themselves throughout the books and by the end they all do. Both books have similar maturing stories but their are also some major differences. Jem was went from being a childish kid to a more mature teenager. In the beginning Jem would play in childish games with Scout to try and get Boo Radley to come out of his house.

However, with her alcoholic dad who rarely kept a job and her mother who suffered mood swings, they had to find food from her school garbage or eat expired food they had previously when they had the slightest bit of money. In addition, when bills and mortgage piled up, they would pack their bags and look for a new home to live in, if they could even call it a stable home, since they would be on the move so often. Jeanette needed a dad who wouldn’t disappear for days at a time, and a mom that was emotionally stable, but because she didn’t have that, she grew up in an environment where she would get teased or harassed for it. Jeanette suffered so much, that even at one point, she tried convincing her mother to leave her father because of the trouble he had caused the family already. A child should be able to depend on their parents for food and to be there for them when they need it, and when that part of a child’s security is taken away, it leaves them lost and on their own, free and confused about what to do next.

However, during these such obstacles she also finds herself and creates a voice of her own. Growing up Janie had a different lifestyle than most african Americans, she grew up believing that she was indeed white. Although she was raised by her grandmother, which she knew as nanny she lived with a family of whites and was treated as one of them.Janie was given a hard time at school because of this her nanny decided it was time to move out. The turning point in Janie 's life occurred when Nanny caught her kissing a boy; Nanny was disappointed because she wanted Janie to be better than what her mother and herself had become. Nanny knowing that she was going to die soon set up an arranged marriage with an older man who was interested in Janie. Janie only being 14 and in desperate search for love hated the thought of her soon to be husband, but she thought that when two people got married they automatically fell in love with each other. She soon discovers that is not what happens. Janie runs away to discover herself, in spite of her self awareness she also finds herself running off with a younger man abandoning her safe home and husband for something in which she does not know how it will play out.

Jody’s pride, materialism, and urge to dominant had turned him into a cold, bitter old man that was on his dying bed with kidney problems [Page 85]. This was the only time Janie had to tell him about the independence she had longed for during their marriage [Page 85]. She knows that Jody was a good husband in the aspects that he provided for her and had power. These were the things that Nanny Crawford had wanted for her. However, Janie the things she wanted which were love and independence in love. She also gained wisdom from her and Joe’s long time together. Janie did not have to leave Jody to get out of this marriage, because he died immediately after she told him all the problems she felt had been in their marriage.

Aunt esther struggled with trying to work with michael. In paragraph number 5 “She said you hate it here,” “she said and you hate me.” it means that Michael and aunt esther don’t get along together and it matters because they don’t like each other and in the end they were hugging. Aunt esther in the beginning was mad at michael but she was very loyal to her sister, that is why she brought him in. Aunt esther was always on the phone and she always talked to her friend. Aunt esther tried to work with michael but he would not work

All through the novel Janie travels through valuable life experiences allowing her to grow as a woman. Janie at first has a difficult time understanding her needs rather than wants, but as she continues to experience new situations she realizes she values respect. Janie’s first two marriages turned out to be tragic mistakes, but with each marriage Janie gained something valuable. When Janie is disrespected in her second marriage with Joe Starks, he publicly humiliates her, disrespecting her as a wife and woman. This experience forced Janie to come out of her comfort zone and stand up for herself.

Janie learns a very important lesson from her grandmother. Not a lesson to emulate, but one to avoid. She does not want to be a cracked plate, she is tall and blossoming and can see what she wants in her life.

The character Aunt Alexandra reminds me of a close friend, my mom had a while back. She raised three boys who grew up to do nothing with their lives. When the lady would babysit me on the weekends she would make me do housework, for her. I questioned her, asking why her boys couldn’t do it, her response was that they were boys and that because I was a girl I was expected to take on the job of taking care of the house. Everytime I read a section where Aunt Alexandra was present it made me feel bad, Aunt Alexandra was forcing Scout dress in formal clothing rather than letting her express her individuality because it would be viewed as unlady like.

Janie was the type of woman who always gave the benefit of the doubt to people, and she always saw good in a person. In the end, she grew more independent because she was able to find her voice and stick up for herself. Joe began to abuse her, and Janie recognized that no woman deserved to be treated that way. After Joe’s death, Janie wanted to remain a somber widow because she wanted to be the perfect image of a grieving wife.

aunt Alexandra believes she is doing scout good when in reality she's attempting murder at Scouts last few years of her childhood. More over the character, Mayella Ewell, another white girl in the midst of becoming a lady, oversteps her boundaries in the laws of society.

Leaving her to be a single mother, depressed and just lost in a world of hurt. Not knowing what to do or who to turn for help in such a low time. Her feeling of grief, depression, and anxiety bottled up inside her and brought her to an all-time low. After years of grieving and trying to find herself, she rose up stronger than ever before. Much like Janie, who suffered a few bad marriages, but eventually realized her worth and found the courage to stand up to the men who treated her like dirt.

Aside from Jean being the contradictory southern lady, Aunt Alexandra is a picture-perfect Southern lady. She wears dresses, organizes tea parties, and gossips, she is everything a southern women is supposed to be. She believes that old, white families are the only ones of importance, and that every family has a streak, whether it was incestuous behavior or alcoholism. She held grudges against everyone and tried to fool everyone into believing she was perfect, but