A Similarity of Characters in Two Different Books

Introduction

Have you ever noticed the similarities and differences between characters when reading different books? Consider Arnold (Junior), from The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie (2007). He is a 14-year-old boy whose condition leads to him being bullied by others. This causes him to think lowly of himself, believing he can’t fight back. But at heart, Arnold is a warrior who, despite the obstacles he encounters, becomes the first person to leave the reservation and attend Reardan High in search of hope. Similarly, we have Lily from The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd (2002). She is a 14-year-old girl living with her sub-abusive father and the guilt of having accidentally killed her own mother. She sets off on a journey with Rosaleen to explore her mother’s past. Both characters leave everything they’ve ever known in search of a place where they belong.

Comparing Similar Characters Across Two Books

A notable similarity between Arnold and Lily is their persistence and ability to endure various challenges. In The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, Arnold throws his textbook at his teacher upon realizing that it was extremely old, noticing his mother's name in it. The pervasive poverty in his community angered him, and throwing the textbook was a sign that he had not given up yet (Alexie, 2007). On the other hand, in The Secret Life of Bees, Lily takes significant risks to save Rosaleen and leaves everything she has ever known behind. She does this with the hope that she can learn more about her mother based solely on a single photo (Kidd, 2002).

Tenacity Amidst Challenges

Both characters exhibit remarkable tenacity. Lily discovers she was an accident and learns that T-Ray was truthful when he told her that her mother left her. This shatters Lily's image of her mother’s devotion. Yet, she understands that although her mom wasn’t perfect, she truly cared for her. In parallel, Arnold deals with the deaths of his grandmother and sister. Despite these tragic events, he completes his school year and begins to heal alongside his family (Alexie, 2007; Kidd, 2002).

Divergent Paths to Resolution

The ways their problems are resolved are quite different as well. Arnold's issues with the reservation gradually diminish in importance after the loss of his family members. His journey teaches him resilience and self-acceptance as he forms new friendships (Alexie, 2007). Conversely, Lily matures during her time at the Boatwright house with newfound support from the community around her. This gives her the courage to stand up to T-Ray, highlighting how much she has changed throughout her journey (Kidd, 2002).

Conclusion

In summary, Arnold made new friends while coping with the deaths of loved ones, and Lily found a supportive community where she matured emotionally. Although both characters embarked on different journeys, they were united by their search for hope—a quest that ultimately led them to come of age.

References:

Alexie, S. (2007). *The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian*. Little Brown & Co.

Kidd, S.M. (2002). *The Secret Life of Bees*. Viking Press.