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Often in life people lead very different lives, however, more often then not we all have problems and struggles. The way we deal with these problems is what makes us survive and determines our success in life. In Tawni O’Dell’s novel Back Roads, the lead character Harley is a teen growing up in Pennsylvania being forced to raise his 3 unruly sibling sisters at the age of 20. Whereas in Maya Angelou’s novel I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, the lead character Maya is a Negro-teen growing up in the south and has been passed around from family member to family member in different states. The books share similarities and differences in relation to characters, setting, and the plot.
Harley and Maya lead very different lives, but are similar people. Harley Altmyer suffers a loss of innocence when his mother goes to jail for killing his very abusive-alcoholic father. Maya also suffers a loss of innocence when he stepfather molests her and raped her. Although these are two different scenarios, each character suffers a loss of innocence and is forced to make juristic life changes as a direct cause. Due to Harley’s fami
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also very different. That is the ultimate difference between the two plots; Harley is weakened by his shortcomings, where Maya is strengthened. Maya blames only those responsible for doing her wrong. Both characters live in the country, but are influenced by city life. Both characters are different by sex. Harley lives in a rural area, with a city close by. Maya uses the struggles in her life to make her stronger, and successful in life. Harley spends the duration of the novel in Pennsylvania, whereas Maya moves to Stamps, St. Maya spends most of her life in the south. The characters do share similarities, but also share differences. Even though the characters suffer two very different stereotypes, they both in fact suffer from prejudice. Both characters !
are longing for a place in the world, and turn to sex to find love and acceptance.
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