Character Sketch

532 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Dystopian fiction analysis

“Sailing in the Bahamas is a dream come true, right?” (Stevenson 1). Unfortunately, for Rachel, the protagonist in the novel, A Thousand Shades of Blue, by Robin Stevenson, the reality is quite different. She finds herself trapped on a boat with her dysfunctional family, as she struggles to live a life free from her parents warring. When she discovers something that threatens to tear her family apart, what follows puts a stamp on an already vivid picture of her character. Rachel, throughout Stevenson’s, A Thousand Shades of Blue, displays characteristics of recklessness, dishonesty, and compassion.

Rachel’s recklessness is made obvious for within the novel. One example of her reckless behaviour can be seen through her attitude. For example, the inappropriate use of foul language when speaking to her parents clearly defines her unruliness. She further shows this characteristic by constantly disobeying her parents and sneaking out at night to meet with friends. In addition to this, while sneaking out, although Rachel is only sixteen, she drinks alcoholic beverages illegally and smoke...

Show More
Related

  • The Fifth of March by Ann Rinaldi

    1111 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...own choices and the uncertainty that accompanies growing up. Rachel Marsh is a twelve year old indentured servant at the beginning of this novel. She is as lucky in her establishment as she is ill-fated in her sole remaining family member, the crucial, predictable, corrupt and wicked uncle. She is (and was in reality) the nursemaid to John and Abigail Adams. Abigail, an intelligent and forward thinking woman, mentors the young Rachel with books and unfettered opinions. While she is on her quest “to better herself,” she meets up with many of the pivotal figures of the Boston Massacre, such as Henry Knox, Samuel Adams and Paul Revere. Central to Rachel’s saga is her friendship with a young redcoat who becomes involved in the Massacre, causing Rachel even more confusion as she makes her mind up about liberty, civil actions and personal and national freedom and identity.

    Read More

  • James Mcbride's Identity In The Color Of Water

    847 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the memoir, The color of Water, the author James McBride's life is rawly laid out for the reader. It discusses his life and his search to understand his mother's identity. In understanding who she is, he believes that he will better be able to identify himself and who he is. His memoir involves stories from his mother's and his own point of view, that help the reader understand the hardships that both individuals encountered, and overall how similar their perspectives truly are. Throughout the book, James tells the reader about many different events that took place over the course of his life. There are a select few that truly influenced the path his life took, and the way he sees himself. These major events include James' step father passing

    Read More

  • The Color of Water by James McBride

    882 Words  | 2 Pages

    The novel, The Color of Water follows the author and narrator James McBride, and his mother Ruth’s life. It explores their childhood—when they were both embarrassed by their mothers—through the part of their lives where they began to accept themselves for who they are. Moreover, this memoir is quite distinctive as McBride cleverly parallels his story to his mother, Ruth’s story using dual narration. This technique further helps contribute to the theme of self-identity. Throughout the novel, McBride searches for identity and a sense of belonging that derives from his multiracial family. By using two different narrations, McBride gradually establishes his identity and by integrating both narratives at the end, McBride also shows that although both narrators at the beginning had different upbringings, in the end they came together, and understood each other’s perspective.

    Read More

  • Themes in The Boat by Alistair MacLeod

    1028 Words  | 3 Pages

    “Two roads diverged in a wood and I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.” At some point in life one is faced with a decision which will define the future, but only time will tell whether or not the choice was right or wrong. The Boat by Alistair MacLeod demonstrates that an individual should make their own decisions in life, be open to new experiences and changes, and that there is no way to obtain something, without sacrificing something else.

    Read More

  • The Color of Water, by James McBride

    782 Words  | 2 Pages

    The novel, The Color of Water follows the author and narrator James McBride and his mother Ruth’s life, through their childhood—when they were both embarrassed about their mother—through the part of their lives where they began to accept themself for who they are and became proud of it. Moreover, this memoir is quite distinctive as McBride cleverly parallels his story to his mother, Ruth’s story by using dual narration which further helps to contribute to the theme of self-identity. Throughout the novel, McBride searches for identity and a sense of self that derives from his multiracial family and through the use of two different narrations, McBride slowly establishes his identity. Plus by integrating both narratives at the end, McBride also shows that although both narrators at the beginning had different upbringing, in the end they come together and understand each other’s perspective.

    Read More

  • External Conflict In Sonny's Blues By James Baldwin

    1000 Words  | 2 Pages

    James Baldwin’s short story “Sonny’s Blues” illustrates the inner struggle of breaking the hold of lifestyles unfamiliar to those normally accepted by society. Through the use of common fictitious tools such as plot, characters, conflict, and symbolic irony, Baldwin is able to explore the complex difficulties that challenge one in the acceptance of differences in one another. This essay will attempt to understand these thematic concepts through the use of such devises essential in fiction, as well as to come to an understanding of how the particular elements of fiction assist the author in exploring the conflict.

    Read More

  • Ellen Foster

    748 Words  | 2 Pages

    At the age of ten, most children are dependent on their parents for everything in their lives needing a great deal of attention and care. However, Ellen, the main character and protagonist of the novel Ellen Foster, exemplifies a substantial amount of independence and mature, rational thought as a ten-year-old girl. The recent death of her mother sends her on a quest for the ideal family, or anywhere her father, who had shown apathy to both she and her fragile mother, was not. Kaye Gibbons’ use of simple diction, unmarked dialogue, and a unique story structure in her first novel, Ellen Foster, allows the reader to explore the emotions and thoughts of this heroic, ten-year-old girl modeled after Gibbons’ own experiences as a young girl.

    Read More

  • Black and Blue by Anna Quindlen

    671 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...ism we enjoy. Hampered by the need for secrecy, Fran slowly overcomes impoverishment, loneliness and fear to make new emotional connections. But the price she pays for this triumph is terrible, and all too real. Above all, Quindlen is wise and humane. Her understanding of the complex anatomy of marital relationships, of the often painful bond of maternal love and of the capacity to survive tragedy and carry on invest this moving novel with the clarion ring of truth. References http://www.randomhouse.com/features/annaquindlen/ (Black And Blue By Anna Quindlen) http://www.bookbrowse.com/dyn_/title/titleID/400.htm (Book Browse) http://www.oprah.com/obc/pastbooks/anna_quindlen/obc_pb_19980409_rev.jhtml;jsessionid=XQFV2DGW142PRLARAYFCFEQ (Oprah’s Book Club) http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbninquiry.asp?isbn=0440226104&userid=3549JZP1CE (Barnas&Noble.com)

    Read More

  • The Pearl By John Steinbeck: Theme Analysis

    441 Words  | 1 Pages

    John Steinbeck’s novella, The Pearl, is written as a parable, which allows the reader to interpret its themes in their own way. It can take place in any time period, with any setting, and using any protagonist. The themes Steinbeck used throughout his book are universal and can applied to anyone’s lives. Its contrasting portrayal of good and evil creates a clear understanding of themes such as greed, illusions, and humanity and reason versus animalism and instinct.

    Read More

  • Analysis of The Boat by Alistar MacLeod

    560 Words  | 2 Pages

    “The Boat”, narrated by a Mid-western university professor, Alistar MacLeod, is a short story concerning a family and their different perspectives on freedom vs. tradition. The mother pushes the son to embrace more of a traditional lifestyle by taking over the fathers fishing business, while on the other hand the father pushes the son to live more autonomously in an unconstrained manner. “The Boat” focuses on the father and how his personality influences the son’s choice on how to live and how to make decisions that will ultimately affect his life. In Alistair MacLeod’s, “The Boat”, MacLeod suggest that although dreams and desires give people purpose, the nobility of accepting a life of discontentment out weighs the selfishness of following ones own true desires. In the story, the father is obligated to provide for his family as well as to continue the fishing tradition that was inherited from his own father. The mother emphasizes the boat and it’s significance when she consistently asked the father “ How did things go in the boat today” since tradition was paramount to the mother. H...

    Read More

  • Use of Literary Techniques to Characterize Rachel in Cisneros’ Eleven

    570 Words  | 2 Pages

    In “Eleven”, written by Sandra Cisneros, Cisneros uses literary techniques such as diction and imagery to characterize Rachel’s character during her transition from age ten to age 11. These literary techniques help to describe how Rachel feels in certain situations while also explaining her qualities and traits. Through the use of these literary techniques Cisneros also collaborated on Rachel’s feelings when she was other ages and how she felt at that time during her life.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of The Boat By Alistair Macleod

    1206 Words  | 3 Pages

    Alistair Macleod’s “The Boat” is a tale of sacrifice, and of silent struggle. A parent’s sacrifice not only of their hopes and dreams, but of their life. The struggle of a marriage which sees two polar opposites raising a family during an era of reimagining. A husband embodying change and hope, while making great sacrifice; a wife gripped in fear of the unknown and battling with the idea of losing everything she has ever had. The passage cited above strongly presents these themes through its content

    Read More

  • Rayona’s Growth in A Yellow Raft In Blue Water

    1070 Words  | 3 Pages

    As the subject of the first section of Doris' novel, A Yellow Raft In Blue Water, Rayona faces many problems that are unique to someone her age. Ray's mixed race heritage makes her a target of discrimination on the reservation. Problems in her family life (or lack thereof), give Rayona a reversed role in which she is the mother taking care of Christine. In dealing with these issues, Rayona learns a lot about herself and others.

    Read More

  • Literary Analysis Of The Girl Who Fell From The Sky

    1031 Words  | 3 Pages

    Presumably, complications start to revolve around the protagonist family. Additionally, readers learn that Rachel mother Nella left her biological father for another man who is abusive and arrogant. After,

    Read More

  • The Character of Phoenix Jackson in Eudora Welty's A Worn Path

    1360 Words  | 3 Pages

    Evans, Robert C., Anne C. Little, and Barbara Wiedemann. Short Fiction: A Critical Companion. West Cornwall, CT: Locust Hill, 1997. 265-270.

    Read More

More about Character Sketch

Open Document