Phillip's Character In The Cay

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In The Cay, Phillip’s character reveals through many conflicts that he developed independence, confidence, and maturity.
Before Phillip developed independence, Phillip was helpless at the beginning of the novel. This can be shown by Phillip not knowing how to do anything. (Taylor 59). “I knew how helpless I was without Timothy.” Phillip knew this while they were on the island, and he decided to owe it to him being blind because he didn’t know anything. Even if he was helpless at the beginning, Phillip became more brave at the middle of the novel. Phillip’s actions can show how he developed bravery. (Taylor 98). “I think it was the fifth afternoon of this week that I blurted out to Timothy, ‘I’ll climb the palm now’”. This shows how he became …show more content…

This is proven several times in the novel. For example, Phillip fights off birds in a confident attempt to get rid of them. (Taylor 118). “I lashed out at it with my cane, wondering why they were attacking me.” Phillip doesn’t show any signs of doubt in this, only puzzlement, and fights them off still. Phillip also shows confidence by climbing a palm, even though it frightened him. (Taylor 98). “I grasped it, hunched my body, placed my bare feet on the rough trunk, and began to climb.” Phillip does this and shows confidence because it was something that scared him. Before developing this, Phillip was unsure of almost everything at the beginning (Taylor 77). “As yet, I didn’t have the courage to climb the palms.” This shows how he wasn’t keen on doing things even for their benefit, and was unsure of anything. Despite this, Phillip was able to develop determination in the middle of the novel. For example, Phillip was open to do new things. Like, actually making things despite the fact that he thought he couldn’t do it. (Taylor 73). We were asleep on the palm mats that I’d made, but it awakened us immediately.” Phillip made these mats, showing how he started to try things, and how he started to become determined to finish something. Phillip overall developed confidence after everything he had to

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