Throughout Section Five of The Glory Field, Walter Dean Myers conveys several themes about the shared experiences of humans. Here, he suggests that security, stability, and identity are crucial components of human beings’ survival in the mental and social world. Myers communicates this message through the diverse perspectives of his characters, creating a clear and profound narrative that chronicles humans’ interactions with the concepts of permanence and perspective.
In the fifth section of the novel, Myers frequently analyzes the importance of stability. Often, these discussions focus on the security that setting, place, and livelihood provide for humans. For instance, the Lewises find that their lives are profoundly stabilized by land ownership. Even …show more content…
As there “has been a Lewis in [the] field as long as anybody knowed anything about this part of the world,” it feels as if the land is a permanent and protected part of life (352). For the Lewises, this setting can always be relied upon for sustenance and salvation, even in times of extreme violence. Consequently, the land serves as a representation of constant stability. As humans interact daily with specific settings, many people feel that these places are stable, constant, and fixed components of their lives. Thus, Myers argues that stability enables people to feel that they are in control of their surroundings, helping humans create a sense of security and survival. Myers also develops the concept of stability through his emphasis on family. At one point, the protagonist Malcolm’s parents argue that “the only real strength was in family” (301). For many people, family is a support and a provider of stability; it is an opportunity for people to feel
In the fifth section of the novel, Myers frequently analyzes the importance of stability. Often, these discussions focus on the security that setting, place, and livelihood provide for humans. For instance, the Lewises find that their lives are profoundly stabilized by land ownership. Even …show more content…
As there “has been a Lewis in [the] field as long as anybody knowed anything about this part of the world,” it feels as if the land is a permanent and protected part of life (352). For the Lewises, this setting can always be relied upon for sustenance and salvation, even in times of extreme violence. Consequently, the land serves as a representation of constant stability. As humans interact daily with specific settings, many people feel that these places are stable, constant, and fixed components of their lives. Thus, Myers argues that stability enables people to feel that they are in control of their surroundings, helping humans create a sense of security and survival. Myers also develops the concept of stability through his emphasis on family. At one point, the protagonist Malcolm’s parents argue that “the only real strength was in family” (301). For many people, family is a support and a provider of stability; it is an opportunity for people to feel