Choosing Family
Sometimes family is not always blood-related. People consider those close to them to be family, which may not be the ones with whom they live. In the novel Caleb’s Crossing by Geraldine Brooks, the main character, Bethia, befriends a Native American boy named Caleb. Bethia and Caleb form a bond stronger than blood. They consider themselves siblings even though Bethia already has a biological brother: Makepeace. Makepeace and Bethia do not agree on a lot and do not get along. Geraldine Brooks says that family is about the relationship between two people, not their family ties. Makepeace and Bethia’s blood is the only thing that holds the two of them together. If they were not siblings, Makepeace and Bethia would avoid each other …show more content…
Caleb and Bethia have an undeniable connection that allows them to understand and be themselves around one another. Caleb teaches Bethia the true names of the island creatures, how to hunt, and his whole way of life. Bethia teaches Caleb about God and the Puritan way of life. They give each other nicknames that describe who they are inside. Bethia gives Caleb the name Caleb, instead of his tribe name. Caleb gives Bethia the name Storm Eyes. They know each other well enough to come up with and use these names. When Bethia goes into the school after arguing with Makepeace, she is upset and tries to hide it. “Caleb, whose back was turned to [her], caught the agitation in [her] tone and turned,” (179). Caleb knows and understands Bethia enough to know how she is feeling from her voice alone. He knows how to comfort and be there for her. Bethia describes her and Caleb’s relationship perfectly: “I had begun this journey following him into the hidden corners of the world and here it ended with him crossed over into the brightest heights of mine,” (293). Bethia says that she followed Caleb, showing how she trusts him. Bethia also says that the corners of his world are hidden, showing how little she knew about Caleb’s world. Now she knows much more, enough to know how hidden Caleb’s world really was. Through Bethia, Caleb is able to cross into the English world and become …show more content…
Caleb responds to the situations in the more positive way, a way that benefits Bethia. Makepeace responds in the way that benefits himself. Makepeace wants Bethia to become an indentured servant so he can go to school. He does not care that Bethia will be a servant, bound there, in horrible conditions. On the other hand, Caleb tells Bethia not to go. He says that Makepeace’s education is not worth giving up four years of her life. Caleb wants her to pursue her own happiness, not her brother’s. When Dudley, “commenced to curse the ‘slattern’ that Master Corlett had employed,” Caleb is the one that stands up for Bethia, not Makepeace (161). Makepeace is too ashamed to defend his sister even though he is the reason Bethia is there. Caleb stands up for Bethia and even says that he will take every one of Dudley’s threats personally. This ensures that Bethia will never get insulted again. Bethia says, “I…love Caleb, as the brother that he, Makepeace, had never been to me,” (134). This shows how Caleb’s kindness is more important than Makepeace’s
Sometimes family is not always blood-related. People consider those close to them to be family, which may not be the ones with whom they live. In the novel Caleb’s Crossing by Geraldine Brooks, the main character, Bethia, befriends a Native American boy named Caleb. Bethia and Caleb form a bond stronger than blood. They consider themselves siblings even though Bethia already has a biological brother: Makepeace. Makepeace and Bethia do not agree on a lot and do not get along. Geraldine Brooks says that family is about the relationship between two people, not their family ties. Makepeace and Bethia’s blood is the only thing that holds the two of them together. If they were not siblings, Makepeace and Bethia would avoid each other …show more content…
Caleb and Bethia have an undeniable connection that allows them to understand and be themselves around one another. Caleb teaches Bethia the true names of the island creatures, how to hunt, and his whole way of life. Bethia teaches Caleb about God and the Puritan way of life. They give each other nicknames that describe who they are inside. Bethia gives Caleb the name Caleb, instead of his tribe name. Caleb gives Bethia the name Storm Eyes. They know each other well enough to come up with and use these names. When Bethia goes into the school after arguing with Makepeace, she is upset and tries to hide it. “Caleb, whose back was turned to [her], caught the agitation in [her] tone and turned,” (179). Caleb knows and understands Bethia enough to know how she is feeling from her voice alone. He knows how to comfort and be there for her. Bethia describes her and Caleb’s relationship perfectly: “I had begun this journey following him into the hidden corners of the world and here it ended with him crossed over into the brightest heights of mine,” (293). Bethia says that she followed Caleb, showing how she trusts him. Bethia also says that the corners of his world are hidden, showing how little she knew about Caleb’s world. Now she knows much more, enough to know how hidden Caleb’s world really was. Through Bethia, Caleb is able to cross into the English world and become …show more content…
Caleb responds to the situations in the more positive way, a way that benefits Bethia. Makepeace responds in the way that benefits himself. Makepeace wants Bethia to become an indentured servant so he can go to school. He does not care that Bethia will be a servant, bound there, in horrible conditions. On the other hand, Caleb tells Bethia not to go. He says that Makepeace’s education is not worth giving up four years of her life. Caleb wants her to pursue her own happiness, not her brother’s. When Dudley, “commenced to curse the ‘slattern’ that Master Corlett had employed,” Caleb is the one that stands up for Bethia, not Makepeace (161). Makepeace is too ashamed to defend his sister even though he is the reason Bethia is there. Caleb stands up for Bethia and even says that he will take every one of Dudley’s threats personally. This ensures that Bethia will never get insulted again. Bethia says, “I…love Caleb, as the brother that he, Makepeace, had never been to me,” (134). This shows how Caleb’s kindness is more important than Makepeace’s