In the story, “The Treasure of Lemon Brown” the author, Walter Dean Myers, uses dialogue to develop characters and further plot. This is reflected when Greg Ridley’s father told him, “I had to leave school when I was 13.” This gives the idea that Greg, the main character, did not grow
up in the best or most normal household. It also gives us an idea of his father’s past and character, it makes him seem worried and protective over his son. Furthermore, Lemon Brown, an old man Greg encounters, says, “Don’t try nothin’ cause I got a razor here sharp enough to cut a week into nine days.” This gives an idea of Lemon Brown being defensive, giving the reader the idea that something likely happened in his past. It also gives the impression that he is not well educated because of the way he speaks, an important detail. Lemon Brown asks Greg, “You ain’t one of them bad boys looking for my treasure, is you?” This furthers the plot by introducing the idea that the old, poor man has a treasure. This makes readers and Greg curious about the man’s past and how he came to get a treasure. Walter Dean Myers uses dialogue in the story, “The Treasure of Lemon Brown” portray characteristics and further the plot.
In the book, The House of The Scorpion the author, Nancy Farmer uses dialogue to develop characters, setting, and further the plot. This is reflected when the maid, Rosa, tells the doctor, “The other servants laugh at me. ‘She takes care of the beast,’ they say. ‘She’s no better than a beast herself.’ They treat me like scum.” This helps develop her as someone with little empathy and only cares for herself. It also shows the environment that the main character, Matt, has to grow up in, almost everyone hates him to the point that they hate the people, associated with him. When Matt was little his provider, Celia, told him, “You must stay hidden in the nest like a good little mouse. There are hawks out there that eat little mice.” This develops Celia as a caring and protective person and as someone who cares for and shapes Matt’s personality. It also gives you an idea of a fierce and dangerous setting, something that influences the plot. Lastly, before leaving him, Tam Lin tells Matt, “No one can tell the difference between a clone and a human. That’s because there isn’t any difference.” This changes the story and Matt’s whole life. Matt had always thought that he was different and inferior to humans. However, when Tam Lin told him that he was not he felt better about himself and allowed himself to try and fit in when he went to find Maria. Nancy Farmer is able to develop characters, setting, and further the plot using dialogue in the novel The House of The Scorpion. The authors of “The Treasure of Lemon Brown” and The House of The Scorpion use dialogue to develop characters and setting and to influence the plot. Dialogue helped Walter Dean Myers and Nancy Farmer develop and portray their story in a way that only having the narrator’s perspective could not have. A world without talking, even in a story, would be an extremely boring place to live or be.