Healing happens when one was given time alone to think. In the novel, Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen, the protagonist Cole Matthews is a violent teenager who was put on rehab isolation for his actions. Cole Matthews characteristics has evolved from negative to positive. Gradually, Cole Matthews changes throughout the novel and tries to help those were once effected by him.
Cole Matthews started off as a belligerent teenager who has anger issues. Coming from a broken family where his father drunkenly abused him and his mother ignoring the situation, Cole grew in a negative environment. “He (Cole) laughed as he saw fear in Peter’s eyes” (Page 7). Cole Matthews enjoy picking on and being feared by others so he can cover his own fears; such as when he gets physically abused by his father. His actions and behavior was not his fault. He described his father as “A bullheaded drinker with a temper” (Page 9) and his mother as “A scared barbie doll” (Page 9). Having an abusive father and a mother who doesn’t stand up for him, he has grown to be as …show more content…
Cole started off negative and denied to heal but after a traumatic violent experience with the Spirit Bear, Cole started to slowly change. Cole got rid of his relentless sight as he saw the fallen tree after a storm “The sparrows were so frail, helpless and innocent. They (Baby sparrows) didn’t deserve to die. Then again, what right did they have to live?...” (Page 82). Seeing the dead sparrows got him confused over who deserved to die or not when usually Cole is ruthless over who deserves it or not. After pondering, Cole found beauty in the world and thought “Yes! The world was beautiful!...How much beauty had he missed in his lifetime? How much beauty has he destroyed?” (Page 97). Seeing the world in a different perspective and on the verge of death, he finally realizes his mistakes and starts to feel forgiving and guilty for what he had
Cole Matthews started off as a belligerent teenager who has anger issues. Coming from a broken family where his father drunkenly abused him and his mother ignoring the situation, Cole grew in a negative environment. “He (Cole) laughed as he saw fear in Peter’s eyes” (Page 7). Cole Matthews enjoy picking on and being feared by others so he can cover his own fears; such as when he gets physically abused by his father. His actions and behavior was not his fault. He described his father as “A bullheaded drinker with a temper” (Page 9) and his mother as “A scared barbie doll” (Page 9). Having an abusive father and a mother who doesn’t stand up for him, he has grown to be as …show more content…
Cole started off negative and denied to heal but after a traumatic violent experience with the Spirit Bear, Cole started to slowly change. Cole got rid of his relentless sight as he saw the fallen tree after a storm “The sparrows were so frail, helpless and innocent. They (Baby sparrows) didn’t deserve to die. Then again, what right did they have to live?...” (Page 82). Seeing the dead sparrows got him confused over who deserved to die or not when usually Cole is ruthless over who deserves it or not. After pondering, Cole found beauty in the world and thought “Yes! The world was beautiful!...How much beauty had he missed in his lifetime? How much beauty has he destroyed?” (Page 97). Seeing the world in a different perspective and on the verge of death, he finally realizes his mistakes and starts to feel forgiving and guilty for what he had