Phil Walenty Character Analysis

I was pleased to have attended a lecture cosponsored by the Ethics Center, the Fresno State office of the president, the Fresno Bee and Valley PBS. The lecture began with Dr. Castro recognizing a few leaders on campus, including a past Fresno State president, Dr. John D. Welty and campus volunteer Mary Castro. Dr. Castro then mentioned a few things about Mr. Brooks stating that he is a columnist for the New York Times and an analyst for the PBS “News Hour” and NPR’s “All Things Considered.” Dr. Brooks also teaches at Yale University, one the finest university in the country. Dr. Castro continued by saying that he learned that Mr. Brooks office hours are from 9am to 1pm and how “cool” it sounded to him. I was surprised how many people attended the event. I was fortunate to find a seat. David Brooks mentioned how he has some remote roots in the Central Valley because his father grew in Chowchilla, CA but Mr. Brooks grew in New York.

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.

In Robert Nye’s book, Unferth is portrayed as an antagonist, a character in a story that is an enemy to the protagonist, because he gets excited about Grendel’s massacres and tries to ruin Beowulf’s reputation and status by lying about him. According to Robert Nye’s book, Unferth says “Aloud, he praised King Hrothgar’s courage. Silently, he drank a toast to the demon Grendel.(pg.13)” This shows that Unferth celebrates Grendel and his killing. Unferth also says “You tried to drown your friend because he was a better swimmer than you!(pg30)”. This shows Unferth is supporting the demon Grendel instead of the hero Beowulf.

Twyla and Roberta are two very different people, but bond in very similar ways. They become friends very suddenly, not because of how old they are, but because both have a mother. Twyla's mom is a dancer, and Roberta's mother is too sick to raise her. They later meet in their twenties in a not so settling way. Twyla had been bussing tables while Roberta had been living large about to meet Jimi Hendrix. Twyla was embarrassed at her long past friend and was ashamed to show herself. Five years later they meet at a grocery store where they both have kids and are settled down. They decided to go vet coffee where it starts off both are different races so they take opposite sides of the debate.  Roberta accuses Twyla of abusing one of the girls at the orphanage. Twyla only remembers sitting and watching the girl get abused by other girls, and Roberta's memories start to come back to her. This holds their relationship together for the next five years when

Natalie Sterling, a seventeen year old senior at Ross Academy had just won class president and beat her opponent Mike Domski. Mike was the kind of guy that Natalie and her best friend Autumn tried to stay away from. The girls at Ross Academy were known as demeaning and “boy crazy.” One day, during the pep rally a bunch of freshman dressed in trampy clothing and started to dance inappropriately. The leader’s name was Spencer a girl Natalie used to babysit for. The flirty freshman called themselves “Prostitutes” or Ross Academy prostitutes. Not only was Natalie embarrassed and angry by Spencers action but, she was disappointed. When the principal and Ms. Bee the student council head were talking to the girls punishments Natalie barged in. Natalie explained how she wanted to have a lock-in for all the girls in trouble and any others from school who wanted to come, about feminism and women's rights. Ms. Bee and Natalie agreed that it would be a good idea for

Spending time in jail can really change a man. In the novel A Lesson Before Dying by award-winning author Ernest J Gaines, the story is about a young man with a challenge of a lifetime. Grant one of the main characters is given a task of changing a man. The novel takes place in Bayonne Louisiana, where the Civil Rights Act has not yet taken place. Segregation was still an issue at this time, and many of the characters throughout the novel face segregation head-on.

In the book, A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines, Grant Wiggins is a hero of discrimination because at first, he didn’t really care whether or not Jefferson died but after spending time with him, he started to care. In the beginning of the book, Grant was selected by Jefferson’s godmother, Miss Emma to make Jefferson realize that he isn’t a hog. “I want the teacher talk to my boy for me.' He looked over her head at me, standing back by the door. I was too educated for Henri Pichot; he had no use for at all anymore. But just as Miss. Emma had given so much of herself to that family, so had my aunt. So Henri Pichot, who cared nothing in the world

Chris (Alex) McCandless a wise, well educated and determined young man. Not your typical young man, some say he’s crazy while others admire him, Chris is self reliant and an extraordinary young man. I wouldn’t follow in Chris’s footsteps but he’s a go getter. Despite all the “craziness” Chris did he had a tough time grasping everything that happened at home and never could he be around someone for a long period of time he wanted everything he did done his way. Some may believe that Chris McCandless went into the wild to escape a toxic relationship with his parents, but it is more than that, his rebelliousness, risk taking tendencies and family problems led him into the wild.

"We get pulled out of our comfort zone to help shed our lukewarm nature, eventually trusting God in all of our circumstances"~Taryn Barnes

Sixteen year-old Adam Daley, son of a pilot and police officer, was helping his best friend Todd with his assignments at school when all computers and electronics suddenly turned off and stopped working. The students are dismissed from school because not even the lights will turn on, and people find out that anything relying on computers, such as automobiles and planes, will not work. Fortunately for Adam, his vehicle is a 1981 Omega, which is able to function because it is not controlled by a computer. Using his car, Adam drives Todd and Lori Peterson, a girl that Adam has a crush on, back to each of their homes.

Royce Peterson was forced to move away from his home, leaving all his friends behind. His mother dragged him to Victoria, British Columbia, to look after her elderly father, who was once a famous cellist. Once Royce arrived in B.C. he was sick with mono and missed a few months of school. At home, Royce felt lonely and isolated, and he spends his time watching T.V and organizing a plan to return to Nova Scotia. His plans were ruined when his grandfather, Arthur Jenkins suffered a minor stroke. Now he is stuck babysitting a grumpy old man.

In Gerald’s life he goes through a lot of misfortune. In this novel, you told a lot of sad and depressing events. After living with his grandma for six years, Gerald has to go back to living with his mom. Now he has a new abusive stepdad waiting for him at home. This novel has changed me by making me more thankful for the life that I live.

Buffy and her gang were able to capture the hearts of fans all around the world because everyone could relate to them. They faced everyday problems like high school drama, studying for a final, and boyfriends. They also kept secrets from the people around them. They were not always honest with each other. The show is considered to be a metaphor for adolescence and young adulthood. Their high school is located in Sunnydale, California which is a "Hellmouth." This is a place full of evil and demonic energy which can be a good way to describe high school. Buffy and her gang fought demons all the time. These demons represent the obstacles in life that everyone faces everyday. In the episode "Hush" Buffy and her gang are able to communicate with

Miracle on the 17th Green is one of James Patterson and Peter de Tonge Novel. They are known as a bestselling author. If you need some impossible things in our lives, James Patterson and Peter de Tonge bring us on strong feelings of life, love, and the strength of miracles. Travis McKinley has a job that he dislike very much, his strong feelings had lost in a marriage, he feels that he is not connected with his children, and in his life he has a very successful nothing importance in his life that is when he is at the age of fifty. Travis goes out to play golf on Christmas Day. But who believe in miracle, Travis and his family change their life’s because of the Miracle on the 17th

In this novel about identity, we are reminded of how often we see ego, wishes, and desires. The specific mundane details of objects, such as the medicine cabinet, Franny’s purse, and other objects, bring out characterization of both Franny and Zooey. The objects can signify how disorderly and imperfect they both are, but are known to be these “perfect” people because they’re really good at what they do. Also, for how famous they are in their acting careers. Salinger uses objects as a metaphor for an empty devoted life, dedicated to a spiritual meaning.