Cody:
Cody Tull, the oldest sibling of the Tull family, took it the hardest when coming into terms with his father 's departure. Being that he is headstrong, a trait that displays itself in everything he does, Cody found it difficult to let go of the past. Instead, he spent time dwelling on and blaming himself and others, especially his father and brother, for the abandonment of his father, inability to keep girls, and mothers abuse, among his other miseries. Throughout his life, he had not known how to communicate his feelings, his cold mother only making it harder, thus proceeded to bottle it up and let out those frustrations on his brother. Later in life, despite resenting his father, Cody subconsciously took after him, following his father’s …show more content…
Being that the past plays a significant role among the characters, the conflict between the Tulls and learning to accept and move on from their past, is apparent. The book starts off with Pearl, the mother, in her deathbed and recalling memories from her life while going in and out of the present time as she lays there. She looks back on the day Beck, her husband, bought the children an archery set that ended up with Pearl getting punctured by an arrow (a story that is mentioned by a majority of the family), and the moment Beck told her he was leaving, but never coming back. In response to his departure, Pearl would verbally and sometimes physically abuse her children to let out her frustrations. It was Beck’s absence and her reaction to it that affected her three children in a way that it left a lasting impression on them through adulthood. Cody for example, blamed himself at first for his father’s desertion, but then blamed his father for leaving them in the cold clutches of Pearl. Ezra, the second child, was the least affected by Pearls rampages but the most affected by the broken aspect of the family. Jenny, the youngest child, on the other hand, could not escape her mother 's mental abuse that haunted her well into adulthood. As each of the three children grow older, the characteristics shaped by their past …show more content…
While reading, it is noticed that Tyler rarely used words to describe each character, but instead used specific events or the opinions from another character to paint the true nature and morals of the specific character. The memory of the archery trip was a story that was brought up by almost all family members and it is this story that Tyler chose to use as an opening for the first chapter following Cody (35). Instead of directly stating the traits of Cody, Tyler provided a scene that showcased who Cody was and the results his actions had on him and others around him. The comprehensive way in which the characters were developed created a depth and realism to them which allowed readers to form connections with the novel. One downside to writing from multiple point of views, is that it can become overwhelming for the reader to follow along. In Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant, it is Cody, in the last chapter, who makes a significant life-changing realization or conclusion (303). If Tyler had focused on simply one or two of the character’s perspectives, for example: Cody and Ezra, or just Cody, as opposed to all four perspectives, the novel in turn might have had the opportunity to go more in depth with a character’s life and conflict which then in turn would produce a clearer focus. Because
Cody Tull, the oldest sibling of the Tull family, took it the hardest when coming into terms with his father 's departure. Being that he is headstrong, a trait that displays itself in everything he does, Cody found it difficult to let go of the past. Instead, he spent time dwelling on and blaming himself and others, especially his father and brother, for the abandonment of his father, inability to keep girls, and mothers abuse, among his other miseries. Throughout his life, he had not known how to communicate his feelings, his cold mother only making it harder, thus proceeded to bottle it up and let out those frustrations on his brother. Later in life, despite resenting his father, Cody subconsciously took after him, following his father’s …show more content…
Being that the past plays a significant role among the characters, the conflict between the Tulls and learning to accept and move on from their past, is apparent. The book starts off with Pearl, the mother, in her deathbed and recalling memories from her life while going in and out of the present time as she lays there. She looks back on the day Beck, her husband, bought the children an archery set that ended up with Pearl getting punctured by an arrow (a story that is mentioned by a majority of the family), and the moment Beck told her he was leaving, but never coming back. In response to his departure, Pearl would verbally and sometimes physically abuse her children to let out her frustrations. It was Beck’s absence and her reaction to it that affected her three children in a way that it left a lasting impression on them through adulthood. Cody for example, blamed himself at first for his father’s desertion, but then blamed his father for leaving them in the cold clutches of Pearl. Ezra, the second child, was the least affected by Pearls rampages but the most affected by the broken aspect of the family. Jenny, the youngest child, on the other hand, could not escape her mother 's mental abuse that haunted her well into adulthood. As each of the three children grow older, the characteristics shaped by their past …show more content…
While reading, it is noticed that Tyler rarely used words to describe each character, but instead used specific events or the opinions from another character to paint the true nature and morals of the specific character. The memory of the archery trip was a story that was brought up by almost all family members and it is this story that Tyler chose to use as an opening for the first chapter following Cody (35). Instead of directly stating the traits of Cody, Tyler provided a scene that showcased who Cody was and the results his actions had on him and others around him. The comprehensive way in which the characters were developed created a depth and realism to them which allowed readers to form connections with the novel. One downside to writing from multiple point of views, is that it can become overwhelming for the reader to follow along. In Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant, it is Cody, in the last chapter, who makes a significant life-changing realization or conclusion (303). If Tyler had focused on simply one or two of the character’s perspectives, for example: Cody and Ezra, or just Cody, as opposed to all four perspectives, the novel in turn might have had the opportunity to go more in depth with a character’s life and conflict which then in turn would produce a clearer focus. Because