The Time Traveler's Wife

       What really amazes me about Audrey Niffenegger's The Time Traverler's Wife? It's ability to make me feel. Every page, I feel rushes of feelings' pass me. It could be any feeling, really. One feeling I find myself feeling a lot is comfort. Near the end of the story, I feel empty. And sad. But I can't stop reading it. It's story and characters just hook me, so no matter how much I hurt from reading this story, I cannot stop.
     The Time Travele's Wife is about a man, Henry Detamble, and his girlfriend, then fiance, then wife, Clare Abshire. Henry, however, happens to be a time traveler. This could be awful, in the way that it causes him to be starnded alone in an unknown time, with no money and no clothes. (When he time travels, nothing not attached to his body can travel with him.) It can be awful because he gets beat up, arrested, and he steals. It's the only way to survive. But, it can also be good at times. It's not always so cold and brutal. Sometimes he travels to his own apartement, and visits his younger or older self. Not only this, but it brought Henry and Clare together. Although Henry is only 8 years older than Clare, he met her when she was 6, and he was 36. He time traveled from a time when they were married. Throughout Clares life, henry visted her. Until she was 18, and then they met in present time.
      As if the plot wasn't complicated enough, the distinction of the characters personalities is also something noticeable. After reading this book 3 times, I can easily describe Clare and Henry. Clare knows what she wants. So, she goes and does her best to get it. She is not mean about it, just a little forceful. She's also witty, but can be serious and solemn when she needs to be. Henry isn't as determined. Because he has watched certain aspects of his life multiple times, he knows how things go. So, he's not eager to make something happen a certain way. He already knows what will happen. Henry does what he thinks is best for other people and himself. He always wants to have a good time, but he knows he must take care of him self. It anything should happen to him, it could be a matter of life or death.
       Henry needs to be fit. As I said, if anything should happen to him, it could affect whether he lives. Because of his time traveling, he often finds himself in need of running, or escaping. How he adapted to his survival skills is really cool. At age 9, Henry was taught how to steal a wallet. He was taught by an older, middle aged Henry. Every morning, Henry runs. He runs because he knows he needs to stay fit. Henry also knows how to pick locks, and beat people up. All in order to save himself, and ensure that he is safe.
   When Clare is in her young twenties, and Henry is about 30, they marry. By marrying, the bind themselves together. Because they are married, Henry will always return to Clare. No matter how ofteb he time travels away from her. There life married is tough at first, but they make it work. This section of the novel is so different from the parts before it. Before, there was Henry, and there was Clare. Even when they were together, it seemed they were separate. Once they marry, a new feeling is involved. Not only does the author drag in an entire new aspect of the story, she drags in a new feeling as well. It really makes you wonder how many things one book can make you feel?
       Henry and Clare have a baby. However, what leads up to this is another tragedy in the story. Miscarriage. The couple has to deal with a multitude of stillborn babies before they get what they want. How they act, and Clare's determination to have a baby really makes you feel. Just like the following tragedies, it makes you feel sad, an empty. It makes you feel like curling up in your bed and crying. And because this is one of the first tragedies in the book, it's a shock. One moment, Clare is pregnant. Even though the reader is not a part of Henry and Clare's life, they feel like they are. So, the reader feels like everything is going in the right direction. Henry and Clare are happily married and they have a baby on the way. When BAM. Their first stillborn baby. Your first.
      All in all, I think you can conclude that The Time Traveler's Wife is a very emotional story. It makes you feel like you are a part of it, so you get the full impact of the many events.

Harry Potter Perspective

    Ron, Harry and Hermione are always doing dangerous, mischievous things that they shouldn't be doing. While doing these things, they make it seem fair, and right, and safe for them to be doing it. From their perspective, it is. They make it seem safe and right to the reader of the book. They feel that there is nothing wrong with what Harry, Ron and Hermione are doing.
    In the 4th book, during the Yule Ball, Ron and Harry overhear a conversation between Igor Karkaroff and Severus Snape. They find out that "something" (that turns out to be the Dark Mark) "has been growing clearer and clearer for months." Snape tells Karkaroff to flee, but that he will remain at Hogwarts.
   Of course, Harry and Ron can't help but get involved. What were they talking about? Since when were they on first name terms? And this only adds to the suspicion that Karkaroff is a Death Eater, and their hatred for Snape.
   As the reader, and as Harry Potter is the main character, you must agree with him and Ron. You automatically assume that they are correct. It's totally their duty to get involved, and find out every bit of information that they can.
   But what's missing? It's the thought that they maybe shouldn't get involved. It's the thought that what they are doing is dangerous, and that they should inform the headmaster immediately. It's the though that Hermione Granger sometimes expressed in the first book, before she grew close to Harry and Ron.  It's the perspective of someone outside of Harry and his close friends.
   It's a good thing that this perspective is missing. If it were here, it would completely ruin the story.
If that voice was there instead of the perspective of Harry and his friends, the reader would be disappointed. They would doubt the strength and passion of Harry and his friends. Do they really want to go through with finding that out? What about the risk? That is not how you are supposed to feel at all. You are supposed to be excited,and supporting, and eager for adventure. You are supposed to feel strong emotion. If the other voice was their instead of the voice of Harry and his friends, then it would be 2 sides contradicting each-other. They would cancel each-other out. The actions of Harry and his friends would weaken, due to the words of perspective.
      If that voice was their in addition to Harry and his friends perspective, than there is a chance it wouldn't overpower the original voice. The original voice is Harry, Ron, Hermione, sometimes Ginny Neville Sirius, and Fred and George's view. That this danger and mischief is okay. This voice is often shared by the reader. Because of this, it would be hard for an opposing view to overpower it. But, it would still weaken the view. If there was a voice when Harry and Ron listened to the conversation of Snape and Karkaroff saying...
"But they shouldn't share the information, or go into it deeply, because it's private and could be very dangerous"...
than the entire effect would not be as passionate and exciting.

Harry Potter (Justice)

 In  Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry Potter encounters Death Eaters at the Quidditch World Cup. These Death Eaters are the supporters, the inner circle, of Voldemort.

  When Voldemort attempted to murder Harry when he was a baby, following the Murder of his parents, Voldemort's powers gave out, and he vanished.

  Now, when Harry is 14 years old, the Death Eaters don't realize the rapidity of their masters return. But, they decide to have a little "fun" at the World Cup. They torture Muggles (people of non-magic blood), and punish them for being "theifts of magic."

  Although Harry Potter is a Fantasy series, many issues are based of real ones. How some Wizards in Harry Potter treat Muggles makes me think of racism.

  The injustice of racism is clear. It's not right to believe that one race is superior to another. And in this case, that's the belief! Some Wizards believe that Muggles are  beneath them, and, like we see a the World cup, some even torture them! 

  Although there are some people who don't think of the Muggles as inferior, and some who are even fascinated by them (Arthur Weasley, for example) that doesn't change the status of prejudice. Aren't their people who are against racism? But that doesn't mean there aren't huge masses of people like the Death Eaters, who are still racist.
  
 Another injustice Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire makes me think of is Tyranny.
Voldemort is the powerful head of his "inner circle." He is cruel and even his voice can convince a server to carry out his commands, out of fear.
  Even if this itself isn't Tyranny, it reminds me of it.
  Voldemort is like the first bud of Tyranny. He can grow, and eventually he could rule the Wizarding World, and that's his plan. Although this occurs mostly in the seventh book, you can see the first sparks of it now.
  In the first chapter of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, (The Riddle House) you can see the power Voldemort has over his servant, Wormtail. The ease he has when murdering an Old Muggle because he was of no use.
 This attitude is obviously one of someone who doesn't feel pain or guilt, and inline of ruling the Wizarding World with cruel mannor.

All She's Got Is Carroty Kate

      
   Ivy is a book with the obvious issues, that crawl on the surface, and deeper issues that you must dig out.
Some of the obvious ones are: The state of poverty Ivy and her guardians are in, the lack of education, the "skinners" that kidnap Ivy, and the fact the Ivy is an orphan.
    Well Ivy, although only 5 years old, was kidnapped. There was no screaming, crying, or whining. Should there have been? Carroty Kate, the quick, witty skinner tricked Ivy into going with her. So, far Ivy doesn't see any harm. Because Ivy is an orphan, nobody will come after her, considering her guardians think of her as a burden. And why should Ivy care? She doesn't love them. She doesn't love most of them, that is.
   The exception is Orlando.
   "Orly," as Ivy would call him is what tipped me off of Ivy's loneliness and want for comfort. It never is stated that Ivy is lonely, or even recognizes it. It never shows that Ivy wants someone to love her. But when you know that there is a emptiness when it comes to loving parents, you can see that she want's love.
The small portion of affection she receives from Orlando is something she relishes.
    Maybe she doesn't realize how much she wants it, but she does.
   Another thing that made me aware of Ivy's want is how eager she was to go with Carroty Kate. Because we have access to Carroty Kate's mind, it's obvious to the reader that Carroty Kate is a thief, and not someone to trust. But to oblivious Ivy, the fact that Kate also has red hair is a bond. It doesn't take a minute for Ivy to start trusting Carroty Kate. When Kate offers the starving Ivy a piece of Orange, Ivy pounces.
    What Ivy calls a skinner id the definition of Carroty Kate. She preys off small children for her own gain. She even sometimes steals clothing from children right of their bodies! She then would sell the clothing.
       The fact that even after Ivy realizes what Carroty Kate was, and she still stayed with her shows that Ivy needs love and to be cared for.
     She yearns for the brief comfort and warmth she recieved before she knew what Carroty Kate was.

Bridge to Terabithia: My Dad, the Shapeshifter

      In Bridge to Terabithia, the most obvious Shapeshifter is Jess's Dad.
      At first, you don't hear much about his father. Small details though, like that he scoffed at Jess's wanting to be an artist? They enfuriate you.
     Jess's father is hardly ever around, always out working from dawn til dusk. So what right does he have to judge Jess? And what, exactly, is wrong with wanting to be an artist?
Something you'll notice about Jess is: he always wants to fit in, and live up to expectations. Not only with classmates, but with his father. Since the event of Jess's father's scoffing at his son for wanting to paint and draw and create art, Jess has been careful not to mention it again.
     That is, until Leslie comes along. Leslie changes Jess. Brings courage and strength in him, meanwhile bonding a friendship so tight not even death can break it. But what does Jess's father think of Leslie? Not much. Although Leslie is fairly wealthy, Jess's father does not approve. What business does Jesse have with a girl who looks like a boy? Who runs wildly around? Who has hippie parents, who write for a living? This brings the subject of difference into the story.
    In this little middle-of-nowhere town, girls wear dresses, play, gossip. Boys race, play football, baseball, and god forbid any of them draw a picture! Everyone goes to church, and watches TV.
And every one is used to it, including Mr. Aarons. So when it's brought to his attention that his son is so close with someone so different, it's a shock. And Jess's father does not support it.
    Then comes the rainy day of Leslie's death (And Mr. Aarons Shapeshifting). Of course, Jess is devastated. But to expectant audience, his dad supports him. He comforts him, and suggests helpful things, like visiting Leslie's parents.
    In the scene were Jess runs into the storm, down to the river and dumps the paints Leslie had given him. Of course, the new and improved father follows and see's this. He tells Jesse that he did a real dumb thing, throwing those paints away. His father has shapeshifted into supporting Jess's art. And when Jess tries to run away, his father catches him, lifts him and held him like s small child. This bond, I believe renewed their relationship.
   It's concluded, then. Jess Aarons father is the shapeshifter in Bridge to Terabithia. He nos supports Jess, and I'm sure if the tragedy had resulted in Leslie's living, he would support their friendship too.

Charlotte's Web Response: Archetype

    Even though Homer Zuckerman is a good guy, he's the shadow of Charlotte's web.
     He is opposing the hero, because he wants to kill and eat Wilbur. When your little, this seems like the most horrible, cruel thing anyone can do, not realizing what your hot dog for lunch is. How ever, when you are older, you realize that this is perfectly normal for a farmer to kill his pig, and for multiple to eat it. Obviously, this is opposing Wilbur, because Wilbur doesn't want to die. Without Homer Zuckerman being this shadow, there would be no Charlotte's Web.
    The shadow doesn't always have to be a "bad guy." I mean, I Templeton is much more cruel and angry than anyone in the story, but he's the shape-shifter. Mr. Zuckerman is sweet, and for the most part of the story, he want Wilbur to be comfortable and happy. Yet, he's also the part that Voldemort, Cruella de Vil, and the Wicked Witch play. Weird.
      Homer Zuckerman creates tension in the story, although he doesn't realize it. He's very proud of his pig, after it's stated that it's "Some Pig." He has very often said it. But then, on page 126 Mr. Arable referred to when Mr. Zuckerman would be killing the pig, putting Wilbur in much strain. Mr. Zuckerman still had been planning on killing Wilbur at this point.
    All in all, you can definitely consider Homer Zuckerman to be the shadow of Charlotte's Web, whether he be good or bad.

Charlotte's Web Response: Connecting

"Well, I'm no good at making speeches. I haven't got your gift for words. But you have saved me , Charlotte, and I would gladly give my life for you- I really would." - Wilbur, page 164.

Think back. Page 49, when Wilbur firsts finds out about his death. Do you really think Wilbur would've said this at this point? Of course not! That's because the bond off friendship between Wilbur and Charlotte greatly matured Wilbur.
Although Charlotte truly is witty and bloodthirsty, she exposes that loyal, warm side of herself towards Wilbur. She did something so outstanding and miraculous that only a friend could do. It is quite obvious that Wilbur would not have been able to live if it hadn't been for his and Charlotte's friendship, and he knows it! The fact of that has such a powerful impact, that throughout this event, he grows up.
On page 126, you'll see a reference made my Mr. Arable about killing Wilbur. So, this is before the life-saving mission is complete. The fact that he might still die is such a shock towards Wilbur, that he faints!
He doesn't want to die, and he has no intention of dying.
But, on page 164, after the life saving mission is complete, he says he would die to save Charlotte.

Therefore, you can conclude that the friendship between Charlotte and Wilbur matured him throughout

her life-saving mission for him.

Charlotte's Web Response: Yo mama...

    Charlotte is a hugenormous motherly figure towards Wilbur.
 In chapter 7, Wilbur is informed by the oldest sheep that he shall Christmas dinner. Obviously Wilbur, who had been totally oblivious to this, acted the way anybody would. He freaked. As Wilbur wailed about how he didn't want to die, about how he was to young, Charlotte calmly said...
"Be quiet, Wilbur!" If you look back to page 1, this is very similar to the way Mrs. Arable responded to Fern's cries and complaints. She just calmly say's, "Don't yell Fern," and continues doing as she was.
This shows That both Charlotte and Mrs. Arable are very used to this behavior. Even though Charlotte hasn't known Wilbur to long, she can already read his attitude and she has already figured out how to treat him. This examples Charlotte's wise and witty attitude.
     Another example of Charlotte's motherly figure is on page 64. Here though, it shows the warmer side of her motherly disposition. She is instructing Wilbur to eat and sleep a lot  for his benefit. She's taking care of him. And Wilbur also really does play the part of her child. He asks for her permission to go get the leftovers from his dinner, when he should be asleep. And, he listens to her! (So,  he plays the part of a slightly abnormal child.) Now can't you just imagine that being your mother?
 The advice she gives on page 65, (" Slowly, slowly! Never hurry never worry!") really is something I can imagine a mother telling her child.
    An all around obvious example of Charlotte being motherly to Wilbur is: She's protecting him from getting killed! Without Charlottes motherly-ness, there would be no book! One of the main points of the story, (if not the main one) is that her web is saving Wilbur's life. Most mothers I know would definitely save their child's life if they had the opportunity.