Zack Essay
The Journey of Silence
By Stephanie Mills
In the novel Zack, the author, William Bell suggests that people need to communicate. This is important to know because lack of communication can lead to a disastrous outcome. In the novel the author uses Etta and Lucas, Etta and Zack and Zack and Etta, to persuade the reader to his way of thinking about communication and outcome.
Zack and Etta’s lack of communication led to a poor relationship. An example of this would be Etta’s decision to avoid confronting Zack about his refusal to pursue music. ”You never took music in school. Just to be contrary” (pg 185) because Etta never questioned Zack about her suspicion, she was unable to learn the truth. Another example would be when Zack realises what his mother had inferred from his behaviour. “She had concluded that I had avoided studying music to spite her.” (pg 186) The miscommunication between Zack and Etta created a poor relationship between the two. When Etta finally expresses her thoughts to Zack he explains the truth behind his decisions, strengthening their bond as a whole. Communication prevents negative assumptions and suspicions form arising within any relationship.
Etta and Lucas’s lack of communication severed all ties between them as neither understood the feelings of the other. Lucas fails to write to Etta, believing a letter would not be enough; however, he lacked the courage to see her in-person. “You didn’t want to know...” “I sat down a dozen times to write” (pg 209). Lucas is unable to convey his feelings to his daughter, leaving their relationship as it stood, non-existent. Finally seeing his grandson gave Lucas the courage to see Etta allowing him the opportunity to apologise to not only Etta, but Thom and Zack as well. Similarly, when Lucas fails to explain the reasoning behind his cruel words just after Etta had first told him of her relationship with Thom. “You said all you had to long ago.” (pg 210) The lack of
By Stephanie Mills
In the novel Zack, the author, William Bell suggests that people need to communicate. This is important to know because lack of communication can lead to a disastrous outcome. In the novel the author uses Etta and Lucas, Etta and Zack and Zack and Etta, to persuade the reader to his way of thinking about communication and outcome.
Zack and Etta’s lack of communication led to a poor relationship. An example of this would be Etta’s decision to avoid confronting Zack about his refusal to pursue music. ”You never took music in school. Just to be contrary” (pg 185) because Etta never questioned Zack about her suspicion, she was unable to learn the truth. Another example would be when Zack realises what his mother had inferred from his behaviour. “She had concluded that I had avoided studying music to spite her.” (pg 186) The miscommunication between Zack and Etta created a poor relationship between the two. When Etta finally expresses her thoughts to Zack he explains the truth behind his decisions, strengthening their bond as a whole. Communication prevents negative assumptions and suspicions form arising within any relationship.
Etta and Lucas’s lack of communication severed all ties between them as neither understood the feelings of the other. Lucas fails to write to Etta, believing a letter would not be enough; however, he lacked the courage to see her in-person. “You didn’t want to know...” “I sat down a dozen times to write” (pg 209). Lucas is unable to convey his feelings to his daughter, leaving their relationship as it stood, non-existent. Finally seeing his grandson gave Lucas the courage to see Etta allowing him the opportunity to apologise to not only Etta, but Thom and Zack as well. Similarly, when Lucas fails to explain the reasoning behind his cruel words just after Etta had first told him of her relationship with Thom. “You said all you had to long ago.” (pg 210) The lack of