Isolation is a powerful force. To be separated from humanity can disorient and debilitate oneself, unless they have hope. In John Valliant’s literary work The Jaguar’s Children, the protagonist, Hector, significantly grows, as he becomes an optimistic individual in order to survive, a more selfless person by taking care of Cesar and becomes a faithful believer in God. The isolation he faces changes his moral beliefs and attitude, ultimately giving him the willpower and hope to stay alive long enough to be rescued.
At the beginning of the novel, Vaillant portrays Hector as a pessimistic individual, however, due to his isolation in the desert, he grows to be an optimistic person. Hector’s initial attitude towards survival in the first few days are negative, he has no hope that he is going to be rescued when he says “there are no cracks or bolts or pieces that can be lifted or broken. It is the perfect prison” (Vaillant 28). Hector rejects the idea of surviving and begins to believe that there is no escape from his prison inside the tanker. Hector has no hope that he may have a fighting chance, and simply accepts defeat. However, as the days go on, Hector matures and becomes increasingly optimistic. Hector talks about how he thinks he hears vehicle noises outside while everyone in the tanker calls him insane, saying it is just the wind: “It never came close. But to …show more content…
The isolation ultimately changes Hector’s moral beliefs and attitudes, which leads to his survival story. Vaillant effectively conveys the message in The Jaguar’s Children that isolation is a strong force, however, hope is stronger as it allows humans to believe in a better world and to keep striving to reach it. Once someone possesses hope, they become
At the beginning of the novel, Vaillant portrays Hector as a pessimistic individual, however, due to his isolation in the desert, he grows to be an optimistic person. Hector’s initial attitude towards survival in the first few days are negative, he has no hope that he is going to be rescued when he says “there are no cracks or bolts or pieces that can be lifted or broken. It is the perfect prison” (Vaillant 28). Hector rejects the idea of surviving and begins to believe that there is no escape from his prison inside the tanker. Hector has no hope that he may have a fighting chance, and simply accepts defeat. However, as the days go on, Hector matures and becomes increasingly optimistic. Hector talks about how he thinks he hears vehicle noises outside while everyone in the tanker calls him insane, saying it is just the wind: “It never came close. But to …show more content…
The isolation ultimately changes Hector’s moral beliefs and attitudes, which leads to his survival story. Vaillant effectively conveys the message in The Jaguar’s Children that isolation is a strong force, however, hope is stronger as it allows humans to believe in a better world and to keep striving to reach it. Once someone possesses hope, they become