The Power of Personal Relationships in The Women of Brewster Place and The Road

(Introduction): Throughout her novel, The Women of Brewster Place, Ms. Naylor emphasizes the importance of sister hood by showing how the women are strengthened by their relationships with one another and proving that men are not necessary to their survival or happiness.

“Finding Daddy-Survival and Hope Through a 911 Tele-communicators Nightmare”, is truly and amazing story about love, faith and death. Sheila and Johnny started their relationship out as friends and later became lovers that faced parenthood at an early age. The Hanna’s faced several setbacks in their relationship in the beginning; however, the complexities in their relationship made them closer as a couple. This story brings awareness of living each minute of the day as if it was your last, because you never know when tragedy will hit home. Johnny loved his family and made sure he spent quality time with his children every day. Johnny was describes as a frugal man; however he worked very hard to provide for wife and children. Johnny made changes in his life in regards to his religious beliefs and became saved by accepting God as his savior. Reading the story how Johnny made the decision to go to the altar with his sons brought tears to my eyes.

His mother treats him like a slave, giving him daily chores and unbelievably ruthless punishments. He has become inhuman to her as she refers to him as “It.” The only hope of survival relies on his dad, in God, or in a miracle. His story promotes the courageous human spirit and the determinate to survive.

In the novel, Ethan Frome, there are two women that are apart of Ethan Frome’s pitiable existence, Zeena and Mattie. There are both acutely different from each other but they also share some similarities between themselves. Zeena and Mattie are different in many ways in the matter of appearance, their outlook on life, and their interest in Ethan Frome but eventually it shows towards the end of the novel that Mattie is not so much distinct from these qualities after “the smash up”.

The relationship between the two fathers and the two sons is a very important theme in this book. Because of their different backgrounds, Reb Saunders and David Malters approached raising a child from two totally different perspectives.

In any genuine friendship there are the differences between the people that spark curiosity, yet, it is similarities that draw two together to form a tight bond. This is evident in the friendship that starts between Vivian and Molly. Vivian, from outward show, does not display the slightest similarity with Molly. It is not until one examines the often tragic back stories of both that striking parallels begin to be made clear. By the time all is uncovered, the likenesses shared between Vivian and Molly far outweigh any disparities. In examining the relationship between Vivian and Molly, a perfect balance is struck in Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline.

In addition, this book succeeds in terms of depicting real life situations to young children. As presented in the story, Reed’s father lost his job; thus, causing him to move back in with

The first feeling of this story is that the boy and his father struggle with their relationship, but as it unfolds, the reader sees how they do care for each other. It also becomes easier to spot the difficulties of communicating within a broken family. The father does a fine job to of turning the boy’s scheduling obsessions into a positive for the boy by noting it as one of his strong points.

“Love and Honour and Pity and Pride and Compassion and Sacrifice”, focuses on the relationship between the protagonist, who is referred to as ‘Child’, and his father, referred to as ‘Ba’. The opening story follows the protagonist as he is struggling to overcome writers block, whilst dealing with his estranged Vietnamese father who is visiting. A number of flashbacks are used as a literary device to divulge into the protagonists past with his father as well as the fathers past. This reveals, not only an abusive past with his father, but also his father’s memories of the Vietnam war. It becomes clear that the son makes excuses for his father, with his girlfriend Linda also noting this, “I think you’re making excuses for him…You’re romanticising his past to make sense of the things you said he did to you” (pp.20). The protagonist reflects this himself, making the excuse that “he was a soldier” (pp.13), and that is why his father treated him as he did. The protagonist, despite once being able to admit to Linda that his father abused him, can no longer admit this, as his relationship with his father grows, and it can be argued that he is willing to overlook his past in an attempt to reconcile with his father. “It was too much these words, and what connected to them” (pp.13).

Richard Back once said “ The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other's life”. Ragged Company by Richard Wagamese is about a group of homeless individuals that struggle through the streets until they find a lottery ticket that wins them millions, but the battle does not end there. Little do the main characters know that the struggle of transitioning from the cold nights on the streets to the warmth of a home and family leaves them with only each other to count on to let go of their past and build towards their future. Each character goes through their own hardships that leave them relying on each other for support. The following paper will explore the different relationships that flourish throughout

Adam Driver once said, “It's hard to kill that father- son bond”. The relationship between a father and his son is unique with every pair. While some bonds are tighter than others, the connection is always special. Though, like everything, its strength can be put to the test. In Night, Life is Beautiful, and “Those Winter Sundays”, The father-son relationship is faced with many challenges but proves that this bond is everlasting.

Imagine going through life without any emotions or feelings for anyone. Life would be methodical and boring; one should be enjoying their life with friends and loved ones. Ones character would be affected greatly without relationships intertwined within ones life. Life would be more enjoyable when having someone to share good and bad memories. It is always best to keep the most important relationships closest to the heart. By doing this, dealing with life struggles can become a much more easy ordeal. In the book, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, Henry and Keiko were always there for each other. Jamie Ford, the author, was able to portray two best friends that shared an ordinary yet unique childhood.

The boy and the father have strong morals demonstrating a high level of authenticity, especially in a world where morality is extremely uncommon. To be ‘authentic’ means to genuinely be yourself. Although, as presented by Existentialism, one cannot be their true self until one has defined themselves. First, one must create their authentic selves, then they must live according to that (Varga). The father and the boy have strong principles to do what is right, even when their fellow survivors have completely abandoned morality altogether. At times, the father struggles with following said principles, however, he then justifies his actions which are purely for the safety of his son. This depicts that the father will do anything and everything to assure that the boy lives. The father expresses that “He knew only that the child was his warrant. He said: If he is not the word of God God never spoke” (5). When a man holds a knife to the son's neck, the father does not hesitate to kill him. Although this is

Personal Connection: The last chapter ends with all three women starting a new life, empowered by everything they’ve accomplished. Although I know the new beginnings can be scary, I’m excited for the new start that I’ll have when I graduate and go to college because I won’t be stuck in the same rut that I’m in right now. I, like Skeeter, am tired of doing the same things the way they’ve always been done, which is why Skeeter moves to New York because they have different views on what life should be like. I want to do something

These constant beatings in Maggie Johnson’s home, furniture thrown from parent to parent, and every aspect of her family life as being negative, her family situation is not an extremly healthy one. But, despite her hardships, Maggie grows up to become a beautiful young lady whose romantic hopes for a more desirable life remain untarnished.