Characterization in books is crucial to connecting to, and really feeling the emotions of the characters. As a result, we can find out how the characters in books feel about situations and allow the reader to analyze the character's reactions and how they grow from them. In 1994, Melba Patillo Beals published Warriors Don’t Cry, a memoir of her life and the struggles she faced growing up with racism. This book takes place in 1957, right in the heart of the integration of southern public schools. Melba decides to enters herself in the integration process of Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. The racism faced by Melba during this time causes her character to grow and change. In Warriors Don’t Cry, Melba’s character can be examined
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Straight away in Warriors Don’t Cry we find examples of Melba’s faith and how religion affects her. In fact, the first sentence of Warriors Don’t Cry says that “Grandma India always said that God had pointed a finger at our family” ( Beals 1). As a child, Melba is close to her faith and does not question it, but as she grows this changes. The racism directed at Melba and her friends exceeds expectations, and her faith is tested. In Chapter 4 of Warriors Don’t Cry, Melba is forbidden to go to the community center, due to the increased racism in the community. Melba begins to cry, as she feels like her life is being stripped from her. Grandma India sees this and tells Melba to “make this [her] last cry” (44). She continues to tell Melba to be brave and that “God’s warriors don’t cry” (44) this is an allusion to the title of the memoir and to the overall character arc of Melba. Consequently, this internal conflict in Melba results in the strengthening of the religious practice in her life (44). After this, Melba often begins mentioning God in her diary entries, such as in Chapter 7 where she writes, “There seems to be no space for me at Central High … Please, God, make space for me” (86). This theme continues to play an important role in Melba’s character growth as she works to resolve difficult
Straight away in Warriors Don’t Cry we find examples of Melba’s faith and how religion affects her. In fact, the first sentence of Warriors Don’t Cry says that “Grandma India always said that God had pointed a finger at our family” ( Beals 1). As a child, Melba is close to her faith and does not question it, but as she grows this changes. The racism directed at Melba and her friends exceeds expectations, and her faith is tested. In Chapter 4 of Warriors Don’t Cry, Melba is forbidden to go to the community center, due to the increased racism in the community. Melba begins to cry, as she feels like her life is being stripped from her. Grandma India sees this and tells Melba to “make this [her] last cry” (44). She continues to tell Melba to be brave and that “God’s warriors don’t cry” (44) this is an allusion to the title of the memoir and to the overall character arc of Melba. Consequently, this internal conflict in Melba results in the strengthening of the religious practice in her life (44). After this, Melba often begins mentioning God in her diary entries, such as in Chapter 7 where she writes, “There seems to be no space for me at Central High … Please, God, make space for me” (86). This theme continues to play an important role in Melba’s character growth as she works to resolve difficult