Analytical Essay
During the 1800's, society was separated by gender, socioeconomic conditions, and race. The novel The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi portrays the struggle of a thirteen year old girl during her travels across the Atlantic Ocean in the 1832. Avi discusses the themes of sexism, classism and racism and shows how the protagonist Charlotte conquers each during her personal journey from a dependent child to an independent young woman.
One of the themes that are demonstrated in the novel is sexism. Most of the sailors on the ship cannot identify with Charlotte Doyle. Zachariah is the only sailor who truly tries to get to know her. "'And you the sole girl, and I, the one black are special on this ship.'" (Avi 24) Charlotte tries to be as womanly as she can throughout most of the book. Later on in the book, she tries to join the crew; they do not think she can do the work the same way a man could do it. “’I want to be a replacement for Mr. Johnson.’ ’You’re a girl,’ Dillingham spat out contemptuously… ‘Takes more than canvas britches to hide that.’” (Avi …show more content…
Upon her arrival to the ship Charlotte somewhat believed that her social class is better than other social classes. She does not want to be friends with the sailors, but she does want to be friends with Captain Jaggery just because he is in the same social class as she is, and they are not. Jaggery also thinks he is too good for the sailors and that he deserves better than them. “’But then again, you and I – people of our class – understand the better things of life, don’t we?’” (Avi 44) When Charlotte joins the crew, she seems to forget her past and does not act like most people of her class. Her hair represents her past and how she is brought up. At the beginning of the book she tries to fix her hair for Captain Jaggery and towards the end of the book, she cuts all of it off; symbolizing that she left her past
During the 1800's, society was separated by gender, socioeconomic conditions, and race. The novel The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi portrays the struggle of a thirteen year old girl during her travels across the Atlantic Ocean in the 1832. Avi discusses the themes of sexism, classism and racism and shows how the protagonist Charlotte conquers each during her personal journey from a dependent child to an independent young woman.
One of the themes that are demonstrated in the novel is sexism. Most of the sailors on the ship cannot identify with Charlotte Doyle. Zachariah is the only sailor who truly tries to get to know her. "'And you the sole girl, and I, the one black are special on this ship.'" (Avi 24) Charlotte tries to be as womanly as she can throughout most of the book. Later on in the book, she tries to join the crew; they do not think she can do the work the same way a man could do it. “’I want to be a replacement for Mr. Johnson.’ ’You’re a girl,’ Dillingham spat out contemptuously… ‘Takes more than canvas britches to hide that.’” (Avi …show more content…
Upon her arrival to the ship Charlotte somewhat believed that her social class is better than other social classes. She does not want to be friends with the sailors, but she does want to be friends with Captain Jaggery just because he is in the same social class as she is, and they are not. Jaggery also thinks he is too good for the sailors and that he deserves better than them. “’But then again, you and I – people of our class – understand the better things of life, don’t we?’” (Avi 44) When Charlotte joins the crew, she seems to forget her past and does not act like most people of her class. Her hair represents her past and how she is brought up. At the beginning of the book she tries to fix her hair for Captain Jaggery and towards the end of the book, she cuts all of it off; symbolizing that she left her past