Theme
Fate does play an important role in the lives of many of the characters in the novel Holes. Stanley’s great-great-grandfather was cursed with bad luck by Madame Zeroni because he did not carry her up the mountain as he had promised. The bad luck haunts his relatives for over a hundred years, until the day Stanley Yelnats the third fourth fulfils the promise of his great-great-grandfather by carrying Madame Zeroni's great-grandson up a mountain and sing him Madame Zeroni's lullaby. From this point the Yelnats family’s luck turns.
Stanley Yelnats great-grandfather was robbed by Kate Barlow and left stranded in the desert. He had survived alone for seventeen days before he was rescued by some hunters. He claimed to have “found rescue in god's tumb”.
So when Stanley and Zero are stranded in the exact same desert over a hundred years later and spot a mountain with the contour of a thumb, Stanley decides to follow his great-grandfather's example and climb the mountain. On this mountain they find onions and water which gives them strength to survive and continue their adventure.
On their adventure, Stanley and Zero develop a solid friendship. They face a lot of challenges which makes them bond even stronger. A good example is when Stanley carries Zero's almost lifeless body up the high, steep mountain. Stanley steals a car just to help his friend Stanley, and Zero gets in to a fight only to defend Stanley.
Good Conflict
Zero escaped from Camp Green Lake after he had hit Mr. Pendanski in the head with his shovel. Knowing that Zero is walking around in the desert without any food or water leaves Stanley feeling guilty and worried about him. This makes him steal a car and escape from camp, just to help his friend. Fine.
Conflicts between characters
Catherine Barlow and Trout Walker
Catherine is the first woman to turn Trout down and give him a “no”. This upsets Trout, and he burns Catherine's school down and kills