Gwen Bristow's Celia Garth: Character Analysis

Have you ever been faced with adversity and believed that you could not overcome it? In Gwen Bristow’s Celia Garth, Luke Asnell never looks at any arduous situation pessimistically. During his service for the rebels in the revolutionary war he is faced with life or death situations every day, but always looks at the bright side. In addition, Luke never lets his feelings or what others say influence his actions; he does what he thinks is best. Throughout the famous novel, Luke stays optimistic even when he has no reason to and does not let feelings or words influence his actions keeping his mind focused on the war. Every day Like is faced with robbers and British that want him dead, but he always stays optimistic when he has no reason to. Luke
His mother, Vivian, wants him to stay home, but he knows that his friends in the war need him. Celia thinks to herself when she sees how troubled Vivian is by her son’s departure, “Luke ought to stay home awhile for his mother’s sake, and she would have like to tell him so” (Bristow 43). Luke is Vivian’s most beloved son and it pains her to see him go. She is unable to tell him to stay because she cannot control Luke, nobody can. Luke always does what he thinks is best, which in this case is to transport goods on the wagon track to soldiers. Luke does not let Celia tell him what to do either. Luke always gets his way, no matter who he is dealing with. Celia tries to tell Luke that she can stay in Charleston, but he replies, “You are leaving this town if I have to tie you and gag you and bury you under a load of live mackerel in a fishing-boat” (Bristow 340). Luke will go to huge extents to get what he wants, even if he has to do illegal tasks such as kidnapping. Luke wants Celia out of town and into safety so he can focus on the war. Luke always gets his way, and usually, it is the right way. When faced with adversity always believes he can overcome it. In addition, he does not let feelings or words change what he wants or what he is going to do. Luke always does what he thinks is best. Through optimism and determination, Luke Asnell is overcome any