The Change Of Phillip Enright's Character In The Cay

In The Cay by Theodore Taylor, Philips character reveals that through many conflicts he developed bravery,independence, and courage. Philip develops many traits in The Cay. He didn’t have them at first though. Life put him through challenges so he could get these wonderful traits.

Philip is never really clear on his facts. He never tells his parents the real reason he isn’t going out for track. He completely lied when he said no one really even like Ms. Narwin. Ms. Narwin was also never out to get him, yet that’s what he told several people. Most importantly though, he never made it clear weather he was singing or humming the National Anthem. If he would have just made it clear that he was humming in the first place, patriotism might not have been such assumed intention. On page 35, 46, and 50-54, you see these deceptions.

Most times, anything abnormal or odd tend to be pushed under the rug. Edgar Allan Poe subtly brings attention to topics the are typically ignored. E. A. Poe had far from a perfect childhood. His father left when he was young and his mother died when he was three. Poe also seemed to have a lonely childhood after his parents were gone. He was separated from his relatives and didn’t appear to have many friends. He attended the army and after went into West Point. His academics there were well but he was eventually kicked out because of poor handlings of his duties. Before Poe died, he struggled with depression and a drinking problem. Some believe Poe’s tragic lifetime was the inspiration for some of his stories. Such as, “The Fall of the House of Usher”. A possible theory about this story is that Roderick and the Narrator were one in the same. This essay will discuss the possibility of them being the same through plot, characterization, and personification.

Phillip demonstrated independence after experiencing blindness as evidenced in the novel when he was able to survive by himself on the cay after Timothy’s death. In the beginning he was dependent on Timothy especially once he became blind.”I stumbled off the raft. I know how to swim, but I didn’t know where to go .”(Taylor, pg 52-53) The evidence supports the context by saying that when Phillip got too excited and he fell off the raft and since he was blind he didn’t know where to go. Without Timothy helping him he would’ve died. Around the middle of the book Phillip is still developing independence, needing Timothy less.

Sir Philip appears to be completely devoid not only of puritanical principles, but also Christian principles. When his ploy to free Magawisca in order to be liberated from Rosa is devastated, getting attacked by the prisoner, Morton, and then being rescued by Magawisca and the jailer, Barnaby Tuttle, Sir Philip becomes painfully aware of his falsity. He realizes, by comparing himself to Barnaby, that "genuine goodness ... rings true at every trial; while hypocrisy, though it show a face fair and bright, yet, like a new false coin, betrays at every scratch the base metal" (261). While the goodness of people such as Barnaby, Magawisca, and Hope will remain unfailing

Characters are often unsatisfied with their the place they find themselves in society. Discontent is what drives them to gain ambition in their ability to radically change their situation to one that is most favorable in their perspective. These changes differ from character to character, including alterations in their moral conduct, mental capability, or in something as easy as his way of dress. The ambition to change rests deep within the character’s soul, regardless of how simple their actions may be. Fathoming a false image of oneself not only damages the individual, but creates trouble for the people around them, such as family and loved ones.

He had to dive for them, but I caught all the fish.”(Ch. 13 pg.96) Phillip is becoming more independent; he can now provide fish for himself as opposed to Timothy gathering food for him. He has fully developed his independence after the hurricane as shown when, in chapter 16, he states that he had,”...taught myself to tell time…” And when he said to Sew Cat that he didn’t,”...know how we’ll get all done.” And followed by saying that,”... something told me I must stay busy and not think about myself.” The fact that he had taught himself to tell time shows that he is independent. He knew how to tell what time of day it was while he was blind. He is taking care of himself, but he is also taking care of Stew Cat at the same time. So, as the book clearly shows, Phillip goes from being needy and reliant on Timothy to being able to take care of himself and another

Thesis Statement – Finny in this novel is a magnetic, charismatic character whom people cannot help liking, but he is also manipulative, immature, and self centered. He is not nearly as innocent as he seems.

“Something happened to me that day on the cay. I’m not quite sure what it was even now, but I had to begun to change.” This quote is good because it is the beginning part of his change in character. Then, at the end of the book Phillip is finally independant. For instance when Phillip makes a list about what to do, “There was so much to do that I hardly knew where to start. Get a campfire going, pile new wood for a signal fire, make another rain catchment for the water keg, weave a mat of palm fibers to sleep on.” This is a good example because it shows about all the things Phillip could do by himself because of Timothy’s teachings. That is just one of the traits Phillip learned through the novel. Another trait Phillip demonstrates is calmness after experiencing Timothy’s death as evidenced in the novel when Phillip is alone and finds peace on the island. At the very beginning of the novel Phillip is angry a lot. As stated in the text, “Then I became angry and accused her of being a coward.” This quote supports the assertion because before Phillip was calm Phillip was angry at his mother for making him leave. As Phillip develops through the novel Phillip becomes

In the middle of the novel, Phillip is scared when Timothy leaves him to go find supplies. When he is alone, he behaves like a little boy again. “During those first few days on the island, the times I spent alone were terrible. It was, of course, being unable to see that made all the sounds so frightening... Suddenly, the tears came out.

Phillip demonstrated independence after experiencing blindness as supported in the novel when he was able to survive on the cay, after Timothy’s death. Before Phillip gained this trait he was very angry and terrified about becoming blind, as it is stated in the novel, “I was blind and we were lost at sea. I began to crawl screaming for my mother and father… I was so frightened it was hard for me to breath” (Taylor 46). Although Phillip was once very dependent on Timothy from his newfound blindness, at the end of the novel he was very independent and learned how to survive on his own from Timothy’s

In “The Cay”, Phillip gets separated from his family, gets stranded on a deserted Island, and loses his sight. These events change Phillip’s life forever and cause an inner transformation in him. Through his inner transformation, Phillip learns to let go of racist beliefs, survive while being blind, and becomes a more mature individual.

Discrimination has been a social problem from the beginning of time, starting from the discrimination towards Jesus-Chris, to the brutality towards black people, to the genocide of Jews during World War II and still today, towards homosexual couples. In this essay, the contrast between the beliefs in Welty’s “A Worn Path” and Carver’s “Cathedral” will be exploited. Phoenix, living for the equality of others, is an opposite in terms of belief of equality and discrimination to the narrator in “Cathedral”, who is selfish and condescending towards people he has never met. The contrast of belief between Phoenix and the narrator, the way each author expresses his or her belief through his or her respective story and characters and the way that the flat characters of each story influence the belief of the round character in each respective story will be subject to discussion.

In addition, Pip’s improvement changes the outlook that is perceived by others of him. For example, after Pip learns how to be a gentleman, Biddy began to address Pip as “Mr. Pip”. Also, The Blue Boar, a local inn treats him differently by how when he was affluent, he was accommodated with the best room. On the other hand, when he had lost all his riches, the Blue Boar only provided him with an indifferent room among the pigeons.

Philip has a lot to blame for the outcome in the novel. He was a distraction during the Star-Spangled Banner. In the beginning of class he didn't like Miss Narwin and wanted out of her classes. Philip would constantly hum during the National Anthem, he doesn't stop when Miss Narwin told him to stop. Miss Narwin said, “Is that you Philip?” Philip told her that he was just humming, Miss narwin then asked, “Please stop it,” (Wortis 43) . Philip also lied to his parents about not trying out for track. Philip would not share with his parents about his bad grade in