Changing Minds
Is it possible that one person’s meaningful words would be able to show someone opposite of what they've been told all their lives? In the novel Summer of My German Soldier written by Bette Greene the main character’s name is Patty Bergen. Patty is twelve and a Jewish-American, she has very low self-esteem and is herself conscious. While she was working in her father’s store in Jenkinsville, Arkansas a group of POW’s (prisoners of war) came in the store. Patty meets one of the POW’s named Fredrick Anton Riker, he is 22. He then later escapes the prison camp and party found him. He teaches her that she is a person of value and she is a beautiful person inside and out because she feels that she isn't. No one in the Bergen household shows her affection and gives her any attention except their African American house maid, Ruth Hughes. So patty hides Anton in return of him making her feel loved and valued.
The biggest internal conflict Patty has, is that she is jealous of her younger sister Sharon. Sharon is that favored one of the two girls by their parents and most of the town’s people. Mr. Harry Bergen is Patty and Sharon's father, he isn't very fond of …show more content…
Patty was jealous of Sharon, but she realizes she has people that care for her too. Her parents are very rude and abusive, mentally and physically, but Patty realizes from what Anton and Ruth tell her that she is a person of value and that she is beautiful and loved. Lastly, she realizes that nothing is wrong with her and that it was all put in her head. Ruth explains to Patty, “I’ve cared for chillun white and I’ve cared for chillun black, I’ve loved every single one of them but nary a one as much as you Patty babe. Nary a single one.” (Greene, 220) that tells Patty that she is loved and that shows what one person can say will change your outlook on what you’ve been
Is it possible that one person’s meaningful words would be able to show someone opposite of what they've been told all their lives? In the novel Summer of My German Soldier written by Bette Greene the main character’s name is Patty Bergen. Patty is twelve and a Jewish-American, she has very low self-esteem and is herself conscious. While she was working in her father’s store in Jenkinsville, Arkansas a group of POW’s (prisoners of war) came in the store. Patty meets one of the POW’s named Fredrick Anton Riker, he is 22. He then later escapes the prison camp and party found him. He teaches her that she is a person of value and she is a beautiful person inside and out because she feels that she isn't. No one in the Bergen household shows her affection and gives her any attention except their African American house maid, Ruth Hughes. So patty hides Anton in return of him making her feel loved and valued.
The biggest internal conflict Patty has, is that she is jealous of her younger sister Sharon. Sharon is that favored one of the two girls by their parents and most of the town’s people. Mr. Harry Bergen is Patty and Sharon's father, he isn't very fond of …show more content…
Patty was jealous of Sharon, but she realizes she has people that care for her too. Her parents are very rude and abusive, mentally and physically, but Patty realizes from what Anton and Ruth tell her that she is a person of value and that she is beautiful and loved. Lastly, she realizes that nothing is wrong with her and that it was all put in her head. Ruth explains to Patty, “I’ve cared for chillun white and I’ve cared for chillun black, I’ve loved every single one of them but nary a one as much as you Patty babe. Nary a single one.” (Greene, 220) that tells Patty that she is loved and that shows what one person can say will change your outlook on what you’ve been