Out Of The Easy Character Analysis

In the novel Out of the Easy written by Ruta Sepetys, one can see that multiple themes are developed through different characters, situations, as well as settings. The theme that is most important to the main character, Josie is “decisions shape our destiny.” Through this theme one can see Josie's development as a character, as well as her own protagonist. This development will henceforth determine the path she takes in leaving the French Quarter. This theme was introduced to the readers in chapter four by Forrest Hearne, this character spoke only once to Josie, but he played a significant role within the book, a role that would forever impact her. Josie walked an interesting life in the French Quarter, her mother was a prostitute and this made her …show more content…
Josies life was anything but easy and that gave her the drive to make her life better. Cokie even said, “‘call this place ‘The Big Easy,’ shoot, ain’t nothin’ easy about it’”(Sepetys 328). Everyone's life in ‘The Big Easy’ was hard, and it did not let up on them. Josie grew up only knowing the French Quarter along its corruption. She did not believe that she could become anything better than ‘The Prostitute's Daughter,’ until Forrest Hearne mistook her for a young woman who attended college. This soon leads to the journey of applying to Smith. Josie says, “Why couldn’t I go to Smith? I made nearly all A’s in high school”(Sepetys 54). Soon after, Josie was rejected from Smith and she was utterly crushed. Josie then had to make decisions to rise above the circumstances, the biggest decisions she made was to change her name and to attend college at Northampton. A quote from the novel that best represents this is, “I’m going to finish school...I’m coming for you, Josie Coquard”(Sepetys 345). The fact that Josie has changed her name and is leaving the French Quarter behind, to go to college proves that she has risen above her