Kingsolver

This realistic fiction novel, by Edward Bloor, describes the problems and relationships that Paul discovers when unlocking the meaning of truth, no matter the obstacles people put up to block him from it. The motif of “sight”, is what introduces Paul to the universal statement of truth and makes him aware of what the people surrounding him can and cannot “see”. Paul Fisher, the main character, uses the motif of sight to have a new understanding of his friends, family, and himself.

Her mother had always pushed her to do what Taylor wanted to be and do in her life and not what other people wanted her to be. The reader is shown both from Lou Ann’s and Taylor’s points of view during the novel and is shown how each character views their beliefs and wants. When Lou Ann and Taylor are introduced together, finally, they butt heads but also work together very well. While their friendship isn’t seamless at first, it is flexible and caring. Both Lou Ann and Taylor end up working together to form their own family.

When you think of a good life you definitely don’t think of Max Vandenburg. Max was a good Jewish man, he was just on a rough path. In his time staying with the Hubermanns, Max did change into a new person.

Lennie is a dim witted person who can't really control himself and likes to plan ahead and pet animals. Lennie fantasies and acts out what it would be like if they had a farm with different colored rabbits.

Great leaders don’t set out to be a leader… they set out to make a difference. It’s never about the role-always about the goal.” (A quote by Lisa Haisha) This quote connects to the American Revolutionary War by telling us what it takes to be a leader. America was able to beat the British because of many leaders. Three leaders were: Sybil Ludington, Nancy Hart and George Washington.

The influence of being raised by a single mother and the environment around Taylor leaves her determined to avoid motherhood and after finishing high school, leaving Pittman in favor of a more interesting life. Doing so makes her realize she is completely unprepared to take care of a child when she decides to keep Turtle. As she gradually starts spending more time with Turtle and living with Lou Ann, however, she learns what it is like to be a single mother, and grows confident in her abilities of taking care of Turtle. Moreover, she even helps Lou Ann gain more confidence in herself, setting an example of being an independent woman and even encouraging Lou Ann get a job. When Lou Ann does get a job, Taylor notices that Lou Ann “finally stopped comparing her figure to various farm animals. Having a job seemed to even out some of Lou Ann’s wrinkled edges” (205). Lou Ann learned to stop worrying over her appearance all the time and demeaning herself, showing the influence Taylor had over her life. Taylor’s presence helped Lou Ann realize that maybe she does not need to fit the mold society has set for her, and that she can be her own person instead. She uses that newfound confidence to help Taylor when her confidence in caring for Turtle diminishes. Taylor believes she is unfit to take care of Turtle after Turtle gets attacked, but Lou Ann does not let Taylor mope

Jimmy knows too well the agonies of abandonment. First, when his mother, Cecilia, ran away with Richard to pursue a better lifestyle. Then, due to his father’s, Damacio Baca, alcoholisms and violent behavior; he also had to leave Jimmy behind. In spite of the drawbacks from abandonment to being a maximum security prisoner in Arizona State Prison, Jimmy preserver’s the darkness of prison by overcoming his illiteracy. However Cecilia and Damacio is not as fortunate as their child; Cecilia is shot by Richard after confronting him for a divorce and Damacio chokes to death after he is released from the detox center(Baca 263). Therefore the most significant event in this section of the memoir, A Place to Stand by Jimmy Santiago Baca is the death of Jimmy’s parents.

Lou Ann is another character who shows female strength throughout the book. She is a single mother, but she feels she can’t do it alone because of her low self esteem. Lou Ann thinks she needs a husband around her to help with her child, but she finds herself realising she is just as capable with or without a man around. “And it struck her that his presence was different from the feeling of women filling up the house. He could be there or not and it hardly made any difference. Like a bug or a mouse scratching in the cupboards at night-you could get up and chase after it, or just go back to sleep and let it be. This was good she decided.” (page 65). Lou Ann starts to gain confidence as a mother. As soon as she sees Taylor question her confidence about whether or not she is good for Turtle she swoops in and tells her “You fight back, Taylor. Nobody picks on you and lives to tell the tale.” (Page 179), And “Well, don’t feel like the one ranger,”she said. “Nobody is.”. When Taylor is having legal issues with turtle, she starts to lose hope again, so Lou tells her, “When I met you, that first day you came over here, I thought to myself, ‘Bonita Jankenhorn, roll over. This one is worth half a dozen of you packed up in a box and gift-wrapped.’” She explains how highly she thinks of Taylor and that she needs

Lennie Small is a character that readers are drawn to right from the beginning of the book. His innocence stands out from the grimey coverings of loneliness and hopelessness that the other characters wear. The reason Lennie is so innocent is because he has a mental handicap, one that prevents him from understanding complex human emotions such as guilt, or concepts such as death. In addition Lennie has trouble remembering things, “" I tried and tried [to remember]...but it didn't do not good." Consequently, Lennie has trouble fitting in with society. Ultimately his mental disability is what leads to Lennie's demise at the end of the book. Another trait that is an essential part of Lennie's innocent character is his devotion to his closest friend George. In fact, the only times Lennie is shown to be angry is when George is insulted or threatened. When Crooks, the crippled, black, stable hand, implies bad things about George, this devotion is clearly shown. “Suddenly Lennie's eyes centered and grew quiet, and mad. He walked dangerously toward Crooks. 'Who hurt George?' he demanded" When it comes to George, Lennie would deviate from the normal passive motives of his persona. More support can be found when George is the only one who can convince Lennie to “get him[Curly]” when Curly attacks him, as well as being the only one to stop him. Perhaps the most prominent support for Lennie's childlike innocence is in his utter belief of George and his dream. No matter how

Taylor takes in Turtle, her new daughter, and begins to care and love her even though she knows nothing about Turtle and her past life; demonstrating how Kingsolver believes anybody can move on from a tough past if somebody is there and cares about them. Taylor asks the manager of the bed and breakfast she wishes to stay at: “you won't mind if I just bring the poor kid in here to warm up while you decide”(22). Even though Taylor has just been given Turtle

When Turtle is assaulted in the park and reverts back into silence, Taylor doubts her ability to protect and care for Turtle effectively, but Lou Ann knows that she need’s Turtle just as much as Turtle needs her. “‘You can’t promise a kid that. All you can promise is that you’ll take care of them the best you can, Lord willing and the creeks don’t rise, and you just hope for the best. And things work out, Taylor, they do. We all muddle through some way.’

Ottawa- Dan Stoddard was doing what he does every day when he came across a woman who seemed to be in danger. He asked her what was wrong and she confided in him that she was being abused physically and emotionally and that she needed a phone. Stoddard could have very well ignored this women but he the just thing and called transit security. In the end, the police came and were able to take the woman to a safer place.

Her family also grows with the introductions of new characters who become important parts of Taylor’s life. Two of these characters are her neighbors Edna and Virgie May, who let Taylor and Lou Ann leave “the kids with [them] on their front porch to be looked after... It was awfully convenient” (153). They always cheerfully assisted, and even when the child in her care was being attacked, Edna “saved her” (224). They aid Taylor many times, so she owes much to them. Another pair of characters whom the author acquaints Taylor with is Estevan and Esperanza. Almost immediately after they are introduced, they become great friends with her. Unlike many men she knows, she admits that she “...[likes] Estevan” (150), and he and Esperanza end up helping Taylor a great deal. A significant instance of this assistance is when Taylor is in danger of losing her child, Turtle. When she asks them if they will stay with her to provide “moral support” (264) during her search for a relative of Turtle’s that could help her, they “without hesitation...said they wanted to go with me” (264). Then, when she cannot find anyone, she asks them if they are willing to help her by pretending to be Turtle’s parents. This is a very dangerous task, but “they told [her], then and there, that they wanted to do it” (283). Taylor is indebted to them because they are always willing to support and help her

Instead of playing with the other kids, Turtle stays still until Taylor comes back to pick her up. Kingsolver is demonstrating how dependence is not the best because if you lose the person you are depending on, you become unable to function without them. On the other hand, independence is not perfect either; Taylor is lost before she finds Lou Ann. Taylor attempts to become entirely independent by leaving her old town, job, and name behind. She leaves her mom in Kentucky, quits her job at the hospital, and changes her name from Marietta “Missy” Greer to Taylor Greer.

In the novella Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, Lennie Small is described as a large man with a muscular build. Additionally, Lennie can be described as if he is a child because of the way he thinks and talks. To add on, Lennie acts like a child because of the way he looks up to George Milton, his travel companion and lifetime friend. John Steinbeck states, “Lennie, a man of tremendous size, has the mind of a young child. Yet they have formed a “family,” clinging together in the face of loneliness and alienation.” Dwayne Johnson would play the role of Lennie very well because of his massive build, and the way he played Bob Stone in the movie Central Intelligence. In the movie, even though he is a grown man, he acted like a child because he wore a