This story has multiple themes, but if I had to pick one quite prevalent theme, it would be the theme of family. Holling's family is not a great family, so this theme doesn't exactly scream at readers at first. Holling's dad is never a great father. He's constantly focused on himself and his work, and his kids never get any of his love or attention. Holling's mom isn't a strong enough person to not fully support her husband, and Heather is constantly making cutting remarks to Holling. A great deal of the story is about Holling longing for and wanting that real sense of family. His parents don't ever fill that need, but Mrs. Baker does. She doesn't become a mother or father figure to Holling, but she does become much more than his teacher. She loves him, supports him, offers him advice, and even reprimands him. Mrs. Baker has Holling's best interests in her mind, and Holling reciprocates those feelings and actions. As the story develops, so does Holling's relationship with his sister. He saves her life from the skidding bus, and her icy attitude toward Holling begins to thaw. It's Holling that makes major efforts to get Heather home after she runs away, and the story ends with showing readers that they love and support each other. By the end of the story, readers can see that Holling's family is in a better place than it was at the start of the book.
No comments:
Post a Comment