Significance

Brooks, Kevin. Martyn Pig: a novel. New York: Scholastic Inc., 2002. Print.


     Two significant elements in the book Martyn Pig by Kevin Brooks are the fathers alcoholism and the event that Martyn's Aunt is coming over for Christmas.


     The father's alcoholism is a significant element to the story. Because Martyn's father is drunk almost 24/7 he often mistreats his son. He physical and verbally abuses Martyn which causes Martyn to have to be extremely strong and totally self reliant. Also, if the father would have been sober, he would not have attempted to punch Martyn. If he hadn't tried tried to punch Martyn, Martyn wouldn't have pushed him into the fireplace and he would not have died. This would have drastically changed the plot because the fathers death is the main crisis of the story.


     Martyn's Aunt coming over is also a very significant element to the story. After the incident that caused Martyn's father to die, he decides to hide the body instead of calling the police. So before his Aunt comes over he must devise a plan so his Aunt doesn't see the body and find out what happened. Martyn's best friend Alex has to help him disguise the body and hide the accident from Martyn's Aunt. This shows how committed Alex is to Martyn and how strong their relationship with each other is. This is also one of the biggest complications Martyn faces in the whole novel.

Define and Describe a Character

McCarthy, Cormac. The road. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2006. Print. 

Resourceful
The ability to deal skillfully and promptly with new situations, difficulties, etc.
Synonyms: capable, creative, able
Antonyms: dull, uncreative, unresourceful

Protective
Having or showing a strong wish to keep someone or something safe from harm.
Synonyms: defensive, guarding, sheltering
Antonyms: attacking, hurtful, threatening

Persistent
Continuing firmly or obstinately in a course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition
Synonyms: perseverent, unrelenting, relentless
Antonyms: lazy, relenting, surrendering

     I just finished reading "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy. In this book the father has all three of the characteristics listed above.

     The father in this story is definitely resourceful. Being in a post apocalyptic world many everyday items that we would take for granted are completely gone. This forces all survivors to make the most of everything they have. The father does this time and time again as him and his son struggle for survival. One example of this is when he fixes their shopping cart using only a few items they found in an old garage. "He pulled the bolt and bored out the collet with a hand drill and resleeved it with a section of pipe he'd cut to length with a hacksaw. Then he bolted it all back together and stood the cart upright and wheeled it around the floor. It ran fairly true." (McCarthy 17)

The father also shows that he is very protective. Although he only strives to protect his son, he still shows that he is a protective person. "Why are you looking at him? I can look where I want to. No you can't. If you look at him again I'll shoot you." (McCarthy 65) This scene shows that he is protective. He is willing to kill a man simply for looking at his son.

In order to survive in a post apocalyptic world you must be persistent. The father in this book is no different. Being in a post apocalyptic world you are faced with many tough challenges. You will see many people die, you will have to walk miles on end and you will have to fight for every meal. The father faces all these challenges and many more as him and his boy fight for their survival. It is nearly impossible to find a quote for this trait because he is constantly persistent throughout the entire novel.