Do you know Cole Matthews? [1] Cole Matthews is the main focus of the young adult book "Touching Spirit Bear" by Ben Mikaelsen. [3]Specifically, Cole is a 15-year-old boy with a rough past and a record for violence stated at the start of the book.[4] Showing distinctly, his baby features, harsh attitude, as well as his shaggy and brownish-blonde hair. Cole has experienced a lot of neglect, as well as physical and emotional abuse in the past, which led him to be frustrated with and resentful toward others.[2] In addition, he snaps at everyone around him to express and communicate his anger. [5]As a result, he has had legal troubles for most of his life, which is why he eventually beats Peter Driscal for exposing his crime to the police [breaking into a hardware …show more content…
He shows an unrelenting and uncompromising determination. For example, to stay afloat Cole begins to swim aggressively and passionately against the tide in hopes of getting to the neighbouring island.[5] Although, he perseveres and continues regardless, "Every minute counted now, and he needed to swim hard", these words that were stated relate to how he suffers severe physical and emotional pain as he swims across the water.[3] Surprisingly, despite his efforts, Cole eventually realizes he lacks the necessary power to reach the mainland because he is indirectly forced to return. [2]To conclude, Cole has incredible bravery in the face of emotional and physical suffering, proving his ability to endure pain and come out the other side stronger. He is also observant, and knowledgeable, and has a unique awareness of what causes others to react. These strengths help him overcome obstacles, which uncover a way toward personal growth. [6] Cole is developing personal
For instance, The beatings caused Cole to need therapy while the trauma from the events gave him anger issues and negatively affected his mental state. Which affects how he interacts with other people making him more aggressive over little things. Cole suffered from traumatic events which most likely gave him PTSD. How Peter helped with Cole's healing and forgiveness. Peter was big by healing Cole.
In the novel, Touching Spirit Bear, Cole Matthews is quick to anger, which is like me. And by looking at Cole’s interactions with others and his background I can say that it is a little bit similar to me. And in my opinion, Cole is just a broken child who needs love and light in his life, and by doing that he breaks the law and has anger issues. My opinion of Cole is that is because I know that having a childhood full of trauma and despair, will have long-lasting effects on you and will forever change. And I know this because I know someone who changed after their grandmother died, suddenly became quiet and quick to anger and was never the same.
Of course, Cole did not take this seriously, so he let his anger in control and burned down his only shelter with food, and everything he needed to supply him on the island. His wild laughter had mocked the world, and everyone he had ever known. He thought of every time his dad has beaten him, and every time his mom never cared. But now Cole was on his own, and he was in control, no one was stopping him. But after he felt a slight mood of loneliness, Cole started to feel emotional.
In the book Wolf Brother by Michelle Paver, Torak is the main character, he undergoes through growth of his character throughout the book. The quote that is being used is from Torak’s father when he is dying, he says “No one can kill the demon bear” this had an effect on Torak because in the moment a rush of fear went through Torak’s body knowing that he had a threat in the woods. This had an effect on Torak in the long run because after his father’s death and this threat in the woods that could kill at any time with ease, this gave motivation to Torak to get the world spirit and kill the demon bear. A phrase would be when said to his father that he didn’t want to leave him when he was about to die but then Torak said once his father had convinced
Cole has changed so much throughout the story and I bet you have noticed some of
As Cole navigates his way through these hardships he learns to develop empathy, deal with overwhelming emotions, and appreciate nature.
However, this event demonstrates his development when it comes to being apologetic. Altogether, these interactions with Garvey and Cole’s mother proves his growing knowledge of forgiveness because they are both people that Cole has
After Being mauled, Cole finally learned. After being rescued he went back on trial and ended up going back to the island where he and Peter both made up and became friends. Cole has learned how to control his anger. The three main symbols are fire, the spirit bear, and the baby sparrows; these all have a representation of his anger.
The circle decides to isolate him on a remote island to help him change. When on the island Cole is mauled by a spirit bear. After months of rehabilitation, he is sent back to the Island. After a long time of hard labor, he finally sees that he needs to let go of his anger. The one character that I think made the biggest difference to Cole was Garvey.
Imagine going through a world where you change everyday. One morning you wake up as happy as can be, the next day mad and depressed as you can be. Doesn’t really happen, but you can change, like Cole did but it wasn’t just overnight. Cole started as a selfish young delinquent, then slowly changed to a caring, understand person.
Because when Cole through the first punch and hit the bear and it lunged at Cole and attacked him. Here’s some reasons that I thought that Touching Spirit Bear is fascinating book to read. The reason I thought it was fascinating book because Cole was abused because of his dad and Cole goes to a building for Circle Justice. Therefore he can get
At the beginning of the novel, Cole Matthews is a vicious teenager who thinks he is superior to everyone, but is, in fact, hiding behind a shield of anger, the result of being brutally abused by his drunken father. Cole’s father, Mr. Matthews, drinks non stop until he becomes a monster, and then ruthlessly beats Cole up. When talking to Garvey, a proud, Tlingit indian, who is also his parole officer, Cole opens up about his father’s abuse saying, “‘You don’t know what it’s like being hit over and over until you’re so numb you don’t feel anything!” (Mikaelsen 28).
Instead, he suffered as a result of his choices in life. Cole has been lonely all his life, and this has led to him to start doing things that have hurt and harmed others as well as himself for attention. Cole's feelings have been written on chapter 8, page 73 as "every action worked against him and hurt him deeply, a bitter loneliness swept over him as tears clouded his vision. " Cole felt alone, but only recognized it when he was on the brink of death. This, in turn, led to Cole trying to fill the loneliness with other things like violence and theft, which nearly lead him to his death.
Cole was beaten by him throughout his childhood. This pain and anger gave him the personality and characteristic to inflict pain on other people. The two final themes have a very strong connection. In order to heal, mentally and physically, you have to learn to forgive and receive forgiveness. This was a lesson the reader and the main character, Cole, experience throughout the book.
Cole emphasizes in his lyrics that “life can’t be no fairytale, no once upon a time; but [he’ll] be God damned if a n***a don’t be tryin’”. Despite all the shortcomings of his city, that won’t stop Cole from trying to make something out of himself. In comparison, I always had to learn things the hard way, and I always failed at what I tried to achieve. However my mistakes never stopped from moving forward and I continue to overcome any obstacles that stand in my way. Living through the hard times motivates me to continuously work hard, and never settle for