Character interpretation of Dinner at the Homesick Restauran
Anne Tyler had said that she used family units to show "how people manage to endure together-how they grate against each other, adjust, intrude, and protect themselves from intrusions, give up, and start all over again in the morning."She had also said that there is not one character that she created that she doesn't like.The characters in this book are three-dimensional. They all have flaws, but they also have redeeming qualities. The changing PoV helps readers to empathize with the characters. After reading the book, we adore Ezra, but we also come to love Cody and Pearl. The arrow incident, when Pearl was hit by an arrow during a family outing, is a good example of this. We read about the account from Pearl's, Cody's, Ezra's and Beck's perspective. Each one of them has their own interpretation of how that happened, and we come to see that none of the characters are "evil."Pearl: strong-willed, determined, not sociable, organized and perfectionist. Her stubbornness allows her to bring her children up by hand, but it also makes h
Beck: likes to make people happy, irresponsibleFrom the last chapter, we read that Beck is a simple person, who likes to make people happy. Her jokes can be seen as her way to cope with life. However, when her first husband turns out to be more organized than she is, she is reminded of her mother and feels oppressed and divorced him. (When Pearl, of course, thinks that she is just managing her home as she ought to. He never oppose to others' ideas (only insisting to run a restaurant), he accepts Cody's mistreatment. She does not wish to be abusive like her mother. ) This, however, does not make him any less an irresponsible person. Readers see a peacemaker, a modest boy who grew up without disagreeing or getting angry at anyone. The point is, they all have good intentions (or excuses), but by fate, misunderstandings and mistakes humans make, they experience unhappiness in their lives. She is deeply influenced by Pearl, and she becomes an organized woman herself. Though there may be flaws in her character, Jenny proves herself to be capable of love. He seems to suppress his emotions a lot, and later, after Ruth is taken away, he becomes indifferent to life, almost wanting to end it. She also abuses her own daughter Becky, and it is hinted that they both have anorexia. Cody: not forgiving, irrationally jealous, insecure, responsible husband and fatherThe readers may be easily angered by Cody's unforgivingness and his taking Ezra's love away. He alone seems to be the most functioning person in the novel.
Common topics in this essay:
Ezra Christ-like,
Ezra's Beck's,
Anne Tyler,
Cody Pearl,
likes people,
likes people happy,
responsible husband father,
people happy,
anger jealousy,
responsible husband,
bring family,
organized perfectionist,
husband father,
|
Acceptance Essays
