Resilience Amidst Epidemics: A Comparative Analysis

In the novels Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson and The Devil’s Arithmetic by Jane Yolen, the theme “stay strong even when times get rough” is shown by love, courage, and family. The authors express this by putting conflict and setting in the stories. The characters then learn how to love, be courageous, and to stick with their family when times get hard.

In the book Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson, a 14 year old girl is living in the year of 1793, when the disease of yellow fever was spreading rapidly. She then learns how to overcome the terrible epidemic, from love, and fights through miserable times. The topic of love is shown by Matilda when her grandfather dies. You can tell she loved and respected him, because she wouldn’t let the men bury him without a prayer. “This was a great man, Captain William Farnsworth Cook, of the Pennsylvanian Fifth Regiment. He was my grandfather. You will not bury him without a prayer.” I spoke slowly, with iron force behind every word.” (Fever 1793 page 154). Another example in Fever 1793, Matilda’s mother shows love by worrying about her. Even though Matilda might think her mother is only nagging her about her health, her mother just wants her to be healthy. “Mother started her lecture. “Too much sleep is bad for your health, Matilda.” She slipped a freshly made ball of butter

The characters in both books do this by learning to love, sticking together as a family, and being courageous. I think this theme can stick with anyone, because everyone at one point has felt as if they’ve lost hope, or they can’t be strong, but they just have to persevere with love, courage, and family. The theme affected me by making me feel like even when I’m in a rough patch, I know that things will get better. I hope these two books will stick with me through my life, and help me remember