Character Analysis: Touching Spirit Bear

How much do external circumstances really affect the overall outcome of each and every human life? It comes down to a mixture of genetics and the events that occur to shape how people live. Despite the importance of genetics, throughout history, it has been proven that the environment has a greater impact on who a child becomes. There are genetic factors that may result in a bias, such as mental health and disabilities, as well as issues that can occur while developing as a child, but for the most part, these can be minimized with positive influence and encouragement. Parent’s decisions shape how their children may react to different situations. Children raised in households where drugs are frequently used or supported are more likely to use
With nature and nurture so closely connected, it brings the question of what makes each person the same, and more importantly what makes them all different. (same circumstances different outcomes)
Even though we are a species that celebrates differences, everybody wants to be the same, to have experiences that others can relate to and to know that they are not alone, what happens to one person will be learned and passed on by everybody unless they find a reason to break the cycle. At the beginning of the book “Touching Spirit Bear,” the main character Cole Matthews was prosecuted for multiple crimes to add to his extensive criminal record, but the latest was assault. After hearing Cole brag about his latest crime at school, a peer, Peter Driscall notified the authorities that he knew who had robbed and
The butterfly effect is the idea that a seemingly inconsequential event can have an extensive effect in the future, much like a ripple. The odds that Garvey would even meet Cole were small, it is a big world and even a few seconds difference for either of them could have resulted in them never meeting and Cole not being sent to the island. It was because of the mauling that Cole changed, by watching the sparrows die, he realized the value of life, and by throwing aside his dignity to survive, he realized that he had not really been living, he was only going through the motions each day. After giving up all hope and accepting death, Cole was rescued. Although many were cautious to trust him again after being manipulated and disrespected, Edwin came to give Cole his support. He explained the two ways people change, “Edwin places Cole on one side of the library. Edwin joins Cole and they attempt to walk the line together. There is much pushing. The second time they try it, Edwin knocks Cole sprawling to the ground. When confronted, he said “Yes, life does that a lot. People change two ways-- with slow persistent pressure, or with a sudden traumatic experience. That's why people often change so much after they have a near-death experience. I believe something significant happened to Cole on that island. 6 months ago, he would have come up off the floor swinging after a push like that. Page 128” Had it not