The Compound Essay #2

-Often main characters will grow in confidence and learn how to accept themselves in some new way.  Cite an example of how the protagonist found a source of strength. Describe how you felt as the reader when this happened.

            Throughout the book Eli seemed to hide behind his long hair as if he was using it to make a shield hiding his emotion. He also would not let people touch him which blocked any sense of affection. These are signs of his depression and post traumatic stress. For example, Eli stated “Had I just messed up everything? I let my hair stay where it was, covering my face.” He often used his hair to hide his face which would hide his feelings and facial expressions.

After reconnecting with his family members and meeting his new ones, Eli felt comfortable enough to cut off his hair and had no issue with touching anyone. He gained confidence and seemed to realize the love he had for his family members. During the moment when Eli realized his issues with his hair he thought this and proposed a question to his sister Lexie “My eyes went to my reflections in the mirror. My own hair. I pulled it forward and let it cover my face so I could no longer see. As I pushed it back, my fingers ran through it. My hair was my shield, a wall, to keep everyone out. Or was it? Did it keep something in? My reflection smiled a bit. I had no secrets left. “Want to cut mine?”.”

Right after Eli let his sister, Lexie cut his hair, Eli said “I held my open hand in front of my eyes. My wall was gone. It didn’t matter whether I felt up to the task or not. Our lives depended on me. My fingers curled into a tight fist before releasing.” Eli knew what he had to do and did that exactly. He saved his family and would not let anything get in his way. Not his hair nor his issue with letting people touch him.

When Eli threw the first punch at his dad, Eli realized how serious the situation was and that he could not let his issue with touching other people stop his anger and need to punch the man that put them through hell the last six years. Eli’s dad deserved it and if Eli were to hold on to his issues with his hair and touching people he would not have succeeded in saving his family.

Eli’s shields were down and he let his love for his family overcome his personal issues that he had been holding on to during the times of their lives in the compound. As the reader I could understand the feeling of empowerment that Eli felt after cutting his hair and feeling the touch of human. Especially during the part of the story when Luke touched Eli and he loved the feeling of his little hand. Eli was ready for action and ready to save his family. No matter what.