Have you ever felt as if you were changing as you solved a conflict in your life? Theodore Taylor wrote a novel titled, The Cay in which the main character, Phillip, develops positive character traits through the conflict he faces. Phillip is a boy who is in the midst of World War II and becomes isolated on a lonely cay with an intelligent black man. In The Cay, Phillip’s character reveals that through many conflicts, he has developed independence, wisdom, and matureness.
Phillip demonstrates independence after experiencing blindness as evidenced in the novel when he was able to survive on the cay after Timothy’s death. At the beginning of the novel Phillip was dependent on everyone around him. In the novel Phillip’s mother states, “ ‘You’ll …show more content…
At the beginning of the novel Phillip did not show wisdom when he never listened to his parents about his safety. In the text it states, “ ‘Where have you been?’ ‘Punda,’ I admitted. ‘I went with Henrik.’ My mother got very upset. She grabbed my shoulder and shook it. ‘I told you not to go there, Phillip,’ she said angrily. ‘We are at war! Don’t you understand?’ ” (Taylor 13). Phillip disregarded the warning his mother gave him and disobeyed her. Towards the middle of the novel, Phillip has developed more wisdom, but still does not listen to Timothy sometimes. To demonstrate, Phillip fell into the water from the raft and was in danger because he did not listen to Timothy. When Timothy jumped in to save him and warned him about the sharks again, Phillip rushed out. Phillip did not listen to Timothy when Timothy was warning Phillip about the sharks in the water. Through all of the conflicts, by the end of the novel Phillip shows he has developed wisdom by learning how to take on Timothy’s deeds while still being blind. In the text it states, “The sea grape! I snapped some off, feeling it between my fingers. Yes, there was oil in it. I got up and went over to the fire, tossing a piece in. In a moment, I heard it popping the way hot grease pops when it is dropped into the water. I knew how to do it now.” (Taylor 132). Throughout the book, Phillip gained the wisdom to protect himself and save himself from any conflicts that come his
Phillip demonstrates independence after experiencing blindness as evidenced in the novel when he was able to survive on the cay after Timothy’s death. At the beginning of the novel Phillip was dependent on everyone around him. In the novel Phillip’s mother states, “ ‘You’ll …show more content…
At the beginning of the novel Phillip did not show wisdom when he never listened to his parents about his safety. In the text it states, “ ‘Where have you been?’ ‘Punda,’ I admitted. ‘I went with Henrik.’ My mother got very upset. She grabbed my shoulder and shook it. ‘I told you not to go there, Phillip,’ she said angrily. ‘We are at war! Don’t you understand?’ ” (Taylor 13). Phillip disregarded the warning his mother gave him and disobeyed her. Towards the middle of the novel, Phillip has developed more wisdom, but still does not listen to Timothy sometimes. To demonstrate, Phillip fell into the water from the raft and was in danger because he did not listen to Timothy. When Timothy jumped in to save him and warned him about the sharks again, Phillip rushed out. Phillip did not listen to Timothy when Timothy was warning Phillip about the sharks in the water. Through all of the conflicts, by the end of the novel Phillip shows he has developed wisdom by learning how to take on Timothy’s deeds while still being blind. In the text it states, “The sea grape! I snapped some off, feeling it between my fingers. Yes, there was oil in it. I got up and went over to the fire, tossing a piece in. In a moment, I heard it popping the way hot grease pops when it is dropped into the water. I knew how to do it now.” (Taylor 132). Throughout the book, Phillip gained the wisdom to protect himself and save himself from any conflicts that come his