To begin with, language barrier is strongly depicted in the novel, Rules. The characters use different ways, language and words to communicate posing a serious communication barrier. Catherine’s brother, David and her friend Jason Morehouse, find difficulties in communicating because they are mentality disabled. Due to his autism, David has problems forming his own feelings and ideas into original statements. Instead, he has memorized general statements upon which he relies upon, for instance, Catherine makes for him rules and lines from his favorite children’s books. In an event where David says a line from a book to Catherine, he feels disturbed unless Catherine responds with the next line from the book. David constantly tries to communicate in regard to an unchanging, organized …show more content…
David expects his Dad to keep to his word after promising to arrive at five o’clock for movies stores which is one of his favorite. Rules is the story of a twelve-year-old girl, Catherine, who is torn between caring for her autistic brother David and finding her own place in life. During one summer vacation, Catherine is busy caring for David and ensures he is out of anguish. Catherine has generated some rules for David, for instance "Say 'excuse me' after you burp" or "You can yell on the playground, but not during dinner." David has little sense of decorum and is easily dismayed by trivial things. Catherine, along with their mother attends David's occupational therapy sessions twice a week (Lord, 2013). Two important events happen early in the summer. A new girl, Kristi, moves in next door, and Catherine strikes up a unique friendship with Jason. Jason attends occupational therapy and is physically deformed, and is dump. Rather, he uses a book of word cards, pointing to cards in sequence to communicate. Catherine is at first overwhelmed and awful of Jason's disability. Kristi is a trendy, "cool" girl that Catherine admires to
Firstly, he commands her to stop “talking to any … guys” (September 18). David’s fear of Anita’s demeanor instigating the students “[to take] [her] away from him” (September 18) makes his actions justifiable; hence, Anita forgives him. However, the second incident regarding Joyce and Debbie exposes his desire for segregation. Whether his fear of Joyce and Debbie “[introducing] [Anita] to other guys that will break [them] up” (October 8), justifies his demands, his second command for Anita, “to quit the basketball team” (October 8) validates his insecurity. By isolating Anita, David presents himself as her only trustworthy and legitimate “friend.” Worst of all, everyone has regards for David, even Anita’s parents. In fact, “[they] really like David” (October 8). Consequently, Anita cannot quit the relationship without the repercussions that would ensue. Everyone would side with David and blame Anita for his future suicide. David’s positive attributes blind everyone from his abusive and controlling nature; therefore, dismissing him as the problem. The driving force of David’s social manipulation stems from his insecurity of the
Furious, Zeena demands a more efficient “hired girl” to complete the tasks around the house, meaning that Mattie must leave.... ... middle of paper ... ... Deep irony and tragedy appear numerously throughout the novel. At the beginning of the novel, the narrator learns that the “smash-up” happened “twenty-four years ago from next February”
Then, his mother began spending her days watching TV and drinking beer. Easily irritated, she yelled at Dave for the slightest reason, or sometimes for no reason at all. Soon, instead of making him go down to the basement, Mrs. Pelzer smashed Dave's face against the mirror, then made him repeat, over and over, "I'm a bad boy! I'm a bad boy!" He was forced to stand for hours staring into that mirror. Dave's father soon joined The Mother, as David called her, in her drinking.
...he story with the various characters. Melinda’s acquaintance, Heather works hard at finding friends and becoming popular, but in the end she turns away from Melinda. The story is about the high school years. Many times when we are growing up we can’t wait to get there because we will be treated as adults, but the truth is the problems that come along when we are older can be difficult. The various clans of students help present the theme by showing us that there are many different types of people. The popular cheerleaders, the jocks, the geeks and those who are just trying to fit in. Melinda transforming the janitor’s closet symbolizes her hiding her feelings and Melinda’s inability to speak and tell people what happened to her. High school can be fun but unfortunately through the eyes of Melinda it was a very hard time.
David must pretend, not just for the remainder of the novel, but for the next forty years, to be ignorant of Frank’s crimes, and much of what is happening because his parents do not realise that he has overheard their discussions.
Child abuse was still on the verge of emerging like mental illness, there were no laws or rights being enforced to protect those against neglect or abuse. Furthermore, all the marks that were present of David’s body had to be cause by more than he was admitting being no one else witnessed the abuse. For instance, when Catherine tried to have David eat the defecated diaper, the abuse stopped when Ron, Stan, and David 's father came back to the vacation cabin (Pelzer, 1995, pp. 57). It was a risky long drawn out rescue mission, but if Catherine had assumed a social case was being built on David’s behalf she may have killed him before he had a chance to realize it. I could not envision myself in a situation of that nature, yet as a person concerned about the well-being of a child, I would have done my own personal questioning to David. I understand teachers have to adhere to protocol, but if you notice everyday your student smells or looks unhealthy, you have to investigate as too why, especially if the mother looks glamorous during a parent teacher conference while the child dresses like a hobo. You may want to question why? Stephen, David 's father was the main person in authority with an opportunity to prevent maltreatment. David 's father stood by watching his son use a five-gallon bucket to relieve his diarrhea. When David was forced to eat
Other examples of physical abuse which David received included the never ending punches from his mother when she felt they were acceptable, when in truth, they were for pure pleasure. Also, the burning incident his mother performed on him because “[He] made [her] life a living hell!” and it was “time [she] showed [him] what hell [was] like!” (Pelzer, 28). This incident David depicted for the reader included his mother forcefully placing his arm above a burning flame upon the kitchen stove. The physical abuse David endured was one in which he would never forget. Luke and Banerjee state that children who are abused physically are more likely to develop “problematic peer relationships” aside from their peers who do not receive maltreatment. David is an
David is conflicted between Waknuk’s rules and Uncle Axel’s advice and opinions. Sophie is the final character who uses her humility and her sincerity to influence David’s awareness of deviants like himself. When David was complaining about how sometimes his thought-shaping hurts, Sophie reminded him that she is experiencing hurt too: “To be any kind of deviant is to be hurt - always” (167). Sophie may not be going through physical pain like David does occasionally, but she does go through emotional pain, like all deviants do.
Dave’s mother claims that she saw Dave playing on the grass which is forbidden. However, Dave never played on the grass at school. It didn’t matter whether he did or did not, because his mother already had a plan. She told him that she read an article that a mother had her son lie on top of a hot stove and she wanted to test it out. She gripped his arm and put it the flames burning his skin. The reward of playing on the grass was a burned arm. It Another incident happened the summer of 1971, by now Dave knew what to do and what not to do to receive his mother’s punishments. The punishments would vary from no food, a slap in the face if he looked at anyone without permission, and if caught stealing food he would be forced to vomit it and eat or something worse. One episode of abuse that stood out for me was the stabbing. The day for Dave was one of the worst punishments ever. As he sat on his hands on the bottom of stairs towards the basement waiting for ‘the family’ eat and wait until he was called to clear the table. This was a normal occurrence and also praying to receive anything to clinch his hunger. He
David growing up as a child lived in a house where there was no love shown or caring relationships. He grew up not knowing what good relationships looked like or felt like. David did not think too highly of his dad or aunt and always had
The major themes related directly to the entire context of the story. The formidable mother-daughter conflict going on throughout the story exposed the clash of their cultural roots. The conflict showed the theme where the mother does not understand the game of chess and does not accept Waverly playing it. Also, it showed it when Waverly felt embarrassed by her mother using her as a trophy metaphorically. Another theme is the symbolic games of chess that Waverly played. Without the use of symbolism the story would have lost a major impact on the plotline. Also, Amy Tan used setting to her advantage to fully show the tone of the story and created a scene of emotion. Its major theme of mother-daughter relationship made it possible for young children to relate the short story to their own
Walter introduces readers to his characters in such a way that it seems like a movie. He allows the characters personalities to grow as the novel progresses and they intersect with other characters. The main characters are Pasqual Tursi, Richard Burton, Debra “Dee” Moray, Alvis Bender, Michael Deane, Shane Wheeler, Claire Silver, and Pat Bender. These eight character’s stories provide the plot line to the book. Some stories are tragic and others hopeful, but all depend on one another at some point during the course of the novel. Walter shows how peoples lives can intersect...
The sad thing is that George and Hazel have no idea of what is going on. Hazel can’t keep a thought due to her average intelligence and George can’t understand what is happening because the noise that is on his headset distracts him. One day Hazel and George are watching dancers on the tv and Hazel begins to cry but cant remember why. They noth start talking abut the dsancers who have weighs on them and masks to cover their beauty. While George is watching a noise goes off and hazel mentions about what she would do if she were the handicapper
In the Newbery Honor winning book, Rules, the main character, Catherine, wants a normal life. Which is almost impossible because of her little brother, David, who is autistic. David has to have rules to keep him out of trouble. Catherine has had to make the rules for David from “No toys in the fish tank” “Keep your pants on in public”. He has to go to something called OT. At OT, Catherine meets a boy named Jason, who she likes to make speaking cards for. In the summer, Catherine’s best friend, Melissa, goes to California on vacation. Because of this, Catherine wants another girl her age to hang out with, because David embarrasses her all the time. One time she was having a sleepover with Melissa and when her mom and David came to pick her up,
In the novel The Chrysalids by John Wyndham it explains the life of a boy named David