Acceptance- Character Development
“ It doesn’t change me?
It doesn’t change me?”
“You’re a Cooper. Dad loved you. He and mom survived this.”
“But this doesn’t change things? Finding out our mother
cheated? He is not my father! And Mom was a liar!” (Page 150)
“You’re my father?” Malcolm’s hands tensed and the veins in
his neck stretched tight.
“I am sorry” Pastor Doug said. “Beyond the simple words, I
am so terribly sorry. Telling you myself, Malcolm, was a stop on my road to
heaven that could not pass by. Without your forgiveness, mine feels
incomplete.”
They wept. (Page 274)
During the novel “The Wednesday Letters”, the character
Malcolm Cooper struggles with acceptance. After the death of his parents,
Laurel and Jack Cooper, Malcolm finds out through letters that his biological
father isn’t his actual father. For most of the novel, Malcolm is lead to
believe that his mother cheated on his father, which extremely upsets him.
Later on, when it is revealed to Malcolm that his mother didn’t cheat on his
dad and that she was raped, he wishes he had never been born. It is easier for Malcolm to continue living
his life when he finally learns who his biological father is. Accepting this
news is very difficult for him, but he knows deep down inside that Jack Cooper,
the one who raised and loved him since day one is his father.
Bird on
Mailbox- Imagery & Symbolism
“And I know it’s silly, I know, but I can’t wait for you to
see the mailbox. It was the first thing
I noticed. It’s sort of rusty-red with a white dove carrying an envelope in its
mouth. It’s the kind of mailbox that will hold our Wednesday Letters proudly
and then beg you to read them aloud. See? I told you it was silly.” (Page 247)
When Jack Cooper goes to look at the Inn before purchasing
it, the first thing he notices is the rusty-red mailbox with a white dove
carrying an envelope in it’s mouth. This
mailbox is a significant object in the novel because it is used to hold all of
the Wednesday letters that Jack writes to Laurel. All of the letters are important because each
one contains different moments of love and trust between Jack and Laurel. The
fact that Jack chooses this mailbox to hold all of his letters to Laurel, the
one he loves most in life, shows just how significant this mailbox is to the
story. The descriptions of the mailbox, being rusty-red with a white dove,
create an image of what the mailbox exactly looks like for the reader. It’s
almost meant to be that this mailbox will contain love letters because doves
and the colour red are symbols of love.
Cooper’s- Character Development
“Woodstock is always Woodstock and the Coopers are always
Coopers. That’s what Dad said anyway.” (Page 58)
The Coopers are the characters in which the novel “The
Wednesday Letters” revolves around. Jack
and Laurel Cooper, owners of the Domus
Jefferson Inn, are still very much in love after being married for forty
years. Together they have raised their three children, Matthew, Samantha and
Malcolm Cooper in the little town of Woodstock. The Cooper’s are a well
respected family and have a very good reputation of being kind and friendly
people. This family is very proud of their family name and hope that it carries
on through generations.
Death-Theme
“It was 9:04 the next morning when a worried A&P and
Castro finally pushed open the Cooper’s master bedroom door. They found Jack
and Laurel at peace in one another’s cold arms. “ (Page 10)
“They both died sweetheart in the night, they don’t know for
sure, but Laurel probably had a stroke or heart attack in bed. I guess Jack
went for help, but it was too late. I guess he just stopped living, you know?”
(Page 16)
The death of Jack and Laurel Cooper at the beginning of the
novel is a major event that affects many people around them. The occurrence of
their death is sudden, but ends up bringing the rest of the family together.
Without Laurel and Jack Cooper’s death, the three children, Malcolm, Matthew
and Samantha wouldn’t have grown so close to one another. When the three children
find the letters their father wrote to their mother, they start to learn more
about their parents, but more importantly, a new understanding of each
other.
Engagement- So What Connection
“And though Rain and Malcolm didn’t discuss it, he feared
and engagement with Nathan was a looming possibility. The thought made him
dizzy.” (Page 74)
“ You need me to write you a memo? We got engaged last
night. And the long cold winter is over.” (Page 78)
“The wedding’s been put off three times now” (Page 61)
The engagement between Rain and Nathan that exists
throughout the novel is a big event that Malcolm struggles with. At the beginning of the novel when Malcolm
finds out that his one true love, Rain is going to marry Nathan, the news hits
him so badly that he runs away to travel in Brazil. Malcolm can’t handle the
fact that Rain accepted to be with a man who will never love her the way she
deserves to be loved. Malcolm’s parents,
siblings and family friends all know that Rain and Malcolm are meant to be
together and that the engagement to Nathan will never follow through. Upon
Malcolm’s arrival home, his sister Samantha lets him know that Nathan and Rain
have not married yet and that the wedding has now been put off for a third
time.
Forgiveness- Theme
“You’re my father?” Malcolm’s hands tensed and the veins in
his neck stretched tight.
“I am sorry” Pastor Doug said. “Beyond the simple words, I
am so terribly sorry. Telling you myself, Malcolm, was a stop on my road to
heaven that could not pass by. Without your forgiveness, mine feels
incomplete.”
They wept. (Page 274)
There are many moments in the novel “The Wednesday Letters”
where people ask for forgiveness. Jack with Laurel for leaving her alone and
then her being raped, Uncle Joe for being an alcoholic and bringing shame to
their family name, and finally Pastor Doug who admits to raping Laurel Cooper.
This is a very tense moment for all the characters involved, especially Malcolm
who is asked for forgiveness for this action. In the end, all characters are
forgiven and able to move on in their life. The burdens that they have carried for
so long are finally lifted off their shoulders.
Grief- Theme
“Oh, Lord, help us!”
Jack cried out as Laurel’s breathing became more pained and her eyes screamed.
Jack fought to sit up. He screamed into her face, “Laurel! But neither her
mouth nor her eyes responded. He swung his legs over the edge of the bed and
put his feet on the floor. Laurel’s
position was unchanged but her eyes were now closed. Her arms rested at her
side.
“Laurel?” He put a hand on her cheek. “Sweetheart?” He
placed his other hand on her quiet chest. “ My sweetheart.” Jack wrapped his
arms around her and pulled her toward him. “My sweetheart,” he said again.
Carefully he rocked her listless body back and forth.
Moments later Jack tenderly placed his wife’s head on her
pillow. (Pages 8, 9)
Right at the beginning of the novel, Jack goes through the
profound grief of losing his soul mate and wife of forty years, Laurel. Jack had an inoperable brain tumor and it was
believed that he would pass first. The grief that Jack goes through is so
intense that he can barely hold on to life, and passes moments after his wife.
Healing- Character Development
“Today I think about our lives and the day I left you alone.
One day. One choice. Something small, but look how it’s changed us. I am so sorry I went. I was selfish. And I am
sorry you stayed. I am sorry I wasn’t there. I am sorry for all the pain we
have all felt.
At least while my choice put us through hell, your choice
gave us Malcolm.
I love you, Laurel, I do. “ (Page 211)
Jack and Laurel go through quite the hardship when the
secret of Malcolm not being his son is revealed. Laurel’s guilt finally gets to
her on the day Malcolm turns one and takes his first steps. Upon confessing to
Jack that Malcolm is not his son, and that she has been raped, Jack leaves angry
and feeling betrayed. Jack doesn’t know if he will ever be able to forgive
Laurel for lying to him for so long, but with time he realizes how difficult it
must have been for her to go through and that it was not her fault. The
relationship between Jack and Laurel begins to heal and their love continues to
grow stronger each day.
Inn- Setting
As the car rolled to a stop, his headlights revealed the
Inn’s customary quiet. It never seemed to matter how many people were staying
or how much collective noise they produced, the Inn was always a scene from a
watercolor picture book. Even in the visual chaos of ambulance lights and
police cars and mourners on the day Jack and Laurel left, the air on that hill
had been undeniably calm. Jack called the Inn’s serenity the spirit of Jefferson. Malcolm called it spooky. (Page 53)
Their Inn, dubbed by the previous owners as Domus Jefferson-The Home of Jefferson-
rested in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley, squarely between the Allegheny
and Blue Ridge Mountains. Jack often said that if he survived judgment day and
his maker granted a choice between heaven and that hillside, the inner debate
would be short. (Page 3)
The Inn is where the entire novel takes place. Many people
come and stay at the Inn for a nice getaway such as Jack and Laurel’s good
friend Annabelle. Annabelle was their
favourite guest to have at the Inn because she always left generous tips. Even
though Annabelle was Jack and Laurel’s neighbour, only living less than a mile
away, she would always make time to go stay at the Domus Jefferson Inn with her cat Castro. The Inn was Jack and Laurel’s dream come true,
as they had been saving for their own B&B for ten years and became a
reality when they inherited a generous gift from Jack’s dying uncle.
Joe Cooper- Character
Development
“My name is Joe Cooper. I’m Jack’s twin brother. I’ve been
in and out of town through the years. I’ve made mistakes. I’ve not been as good
as Jack or as good as his boys. I’m sorry… I’m sorry for everything… For not
being a part of your life. I’m sorry for the mistakes I’ve made. I’m sorry for
the embarrassment, the pain I’ve caused our family. I’ve wasted so much… so
much time. (Page 258)
Joe Cooper is the twin brother of Jack Cooper. He has had a rough life with being an
alcoholic and going to prison. Jack
always tried to help Joe with paying for an apartment and giving him money
after he had lost his job from a landscaping company when he has driven a
riding mower four miles downtown for a drink during his lunch break. Joe Cooper
isn’t present during the novel, until the funeral of his brother. It is hard
for him to come out and most people are shocked by his presence, but he feels
it is his way to not only say sorry, but thank you.
Kiss (first
kiss)- Imagery & Symbolism
“Sammie, you remember homecoming the year you made Rain and
me dinner and you dressed up like a fancy hostess? I probably never told you
this, but between that salad you made, and the trout, which was surprisingly
good, well, that was the first time we kissed.” (Page 194)
One afternoon when Malcolm is spending time with his brother
and sister, he finds himself thinking about Rain… Again. Malcolm loves Rain and
remembers every memory that includes her, from the smell of her perfume, to
their very first kiss. You can tell how significant Malcolm’s first kiss with
Rain is because he remembers the exact date and details that came with it. His first kiss with Rain is something that he
will never forget.
Love Letters- Symbolism
“Your mother didn’t share many letters with me, they were
personal you know, but from time to time she’d all and read something clever to
me. She loved these letters, and she was proud of your dad for writing them. I
imagine there are pyramids full of treasure in these letters, some whispered secrets,
adventurous accounts you kids never knew about, even some juicy gossip.” (Page
161)
“Those two lived quite a life,” she mused. “These pieces of
paper,” she tapped the top of a letter with her index finger as she spoke,
“they saved their marriage more than once.” (Page 161)
Jack Cooper decides on the night of his and Laurel’s wedding
to write love letters to her every Wednesday. He promises to write to her every
week, no matter where they are or what comes between them. Their three children
later discover the love letters in boxes in the basement and learn how much
their parents had been through and loved each other. These love letters that
Jack and Laurel share represent the love and commitment that they felt towards
one another and reveal how strong their relationship truly was.
Malcolm
Cooper- Character Development
“Neither his parents nor his sibling had spoken to Malcolm
in almost a year.” (Page 20)
“Malcolm hadn’t been anywhere near the bar since the last
time he saw Rain. Looking at the sidewalk, remembering that night, seeing in
his memory a red tooth roll to a stop on a manhole cover made his weak stomach
spin.” (Page 51)
“ I tell you son, that your discovery is not about who you
think your father is. That is unchanged. Since the first time I held you on my
lap after your mother’s revelation, I saw my son. I saw a son who belonged to
me and was part of me the same way Matthew was. What was true yesterday is true
today. I am your father. Your mother forgave. I forgave. Your Lord forgave. So
must you. “ (Page 271)
Malcolm Cooper is the middle child of the three children
that Jack and Laurel have together. Throughout the novel, Malcolm struggles
with his love for Rain and the acceptance of learning who he is. Malcolm flees to Brazil to escape his life at
home, in hope of finding himself at the same time. He distances himself from
his family and friends over the years and when he discovers that his parents
have passed he rushes home. His
relationships with his ex girlfriend, Rain, his brother and sister, Matthew and
Samantha, and his Aunt Allyson begin to strengthen with time and Malcolm soon
finds himself.
Nathan- Character Development
“Malcolm!” Nathan yelled. “Enough!”
“What?” Malcolm turned to Nathan.
“She’s not worth it.”
Malcolm stared at him wide-eyed.
“We all know Rain’s got more going on outside than inside.”
“What did you say? Are you drunk? What is your problem?”
“I’ve got no problem. Just opportunities. And Rain’s been
giving plenty of them to me lately,
if you know what I mean.”
Nathan is the man Rain gets engaged to after Malcolm leaves.
Nathan is a well off man who agrees to fulfill Rain’s dreams of getting
married, buying a nice house and having kids.
Even though Rain doesn’t have huge feeling towards Nathan, she is ready
to move on a start a life. Everyone knows Rain could do a lot better than
Nathan, especially since it’s apparent he doesn’t truly love her. Nathan is quite arrogant and mostly in this
relationship to win Rain over Malcolm.
Options- Character Development
“Nathan reached over and unzipped the bag. He dumped thick
bundles of $20 bills in a pile on the table.
“How long does twenty-five grand buy me?”
“Twenty- five thousand
dollars?”
“Twenty five K.”
“You’re willing to pay me twenty-five thousand dollars to
take off?” Nathan had surprised Malcolm before, but the amount was startling
and the moment left him spinning.
Nathan smiled and fanned himself by flipping through a bundle
of crisp bills.
“So how does this work exactly? I run back to Brazil, or
wherever I want to go, and promise to stay out of your life?”
“I figure five years, minimum. By then Rain and I will have
a kid, maybe two, and I’ll be in Richmond, maybe state senator by then,
certainly a delegate. And then you can
do what you want with your life. You’ll be a speck of concern for me. Maybe
less.” (Page 240)
Towards the end of the novel, Rain’s fiancé Nathan begins to
get worried about Malcolm and Rain’s feelings towards one another. Nathan can’t
stand knowing that he could loose Rain to Malcolm, therefore he proceeds with a
cowardly action. While Malcolm is at home, preparing himself for his parent’s
funeral, Nathan decides to pay him a visit. Nathan gives Malcolm an option, to
stay, or to take the money and leave for some years. Malcolm is quite surprised by Nathan’s
actions and frankly, is shocked that he intimidates Nathan. Malcolm decides to decline Nathan’s money
offer and see if his staying will help further his relationship with Rain.
Promise– Symbolism
“Now I’ll make one more promise. (Can you believe it? I’ve
never made so many promises in my life) Laurel, I will always stand by you. No
matter what. We’re in everything together. No secrets. No surprises. And I will always be true. In every way. I
love you, Mrs. Jack Cooper.” (Page 98)
“Laurel, this may be the last letter I’ll ever write you.
I’m not sure why I’m bothering. I suppose because I keep my promises.” (Page
144)
Jack Cooper made a promise to Laurel when they married, June
16th 1948, that he would write her a letter every Wednesday. Through
their ups and downs, Jack managed to always keep his promise of writing her a
letter each week. It is amazing to see
that Jack keeps his promise for forty years, up until the moment Laurel passes
away when he writes his final letter and passes shortly after. Jack’s promise
shows how loyal and true he is to Laurel and he displays the significance of
his love for her.
Questioning-
Character Development
“ It doesn’t change me?
It doesn’t change me?”
“You’re a Cooper. Dad loved you. He and mom survived this.”
“But this doesn’t change things? Finding out our mother
cheated? Malcolm’s voice rose with each question. “Finding out I’m a bastard?
All these year, “ Malcolm stood, “all these years I loved Mom, and all those
times I fought with Dad-telling him he was too strict, too demanding, accusing
him of always being all wrapped up in honoring the family name- and he knew the
whole time I wasn’t even his.” (Pages 150, 151)
When Malcolm finds out that Jack Cooper isn’t his biological
father, he questions who he is. He has lived his whole life thinking he was the
son of Jack and Laurel Cooper, and to find out several years later that he is
not who he thought he was, is difficult for him. Malcolm begins to ask his aunt
and his sibling several questions in need of discovering who his father is and
more importantly who he is. Through the letters and talks with his Aunt Allyson
and confession from Pastor Doug, Malcolm’s questions are finally answered.
Rain Jeperson-
Character Development
“I ache so much, and I’m just a friend here, just an
employee-“
“Rain,” Samantha interrupted, “you know you are more than
that. You’re family. Mom and Dad loved you.”
“For Rain Only- My sweet friend, please care for this and
give to my attorney, Alex Palmer. You’re a rare Gem. Will miss you. Jack.”
(Page 136)
Rain Jeperson is a very close family friend, who is the
manager of the Domus Jefferson Inn
and previously dated Malcolm. She was born and raised in Shenandoah Valley and
although her school friends moved away, she was content to remain in the small
town and make it her home. Rain’s dream is to have a Cinderella life with a loving husband, children and a picket fence.
The Coopers think of Rain as family and hope that one day she is part of their
family. The night before the funeral of Jack and Laurel Cooper, Rain finds a
letter written by Jack just for her. This shows how important Rain was to the
family. Malcolm has loved Rain ever since the first day they met and later on
in life, he ends up fulfilling his dream of marrying her and having one child
named Noah.
Secrets in
Relationships- So What
“What do you say when you discover your wife has lied to
you? Am I the last to know? What am I expected to say? What were you hoping I
would say? How long have you lived with this?” (Page 145)
“Were you aching because of the truth? Does Ally know? Do
your parents know? Does anyone else know?
And the question I should have asked before breaking that
picture and storming out-
Do you know who Malcolm’s father is?” (Page 149)
“By the time she told Jack the truth, Malcolm was a Cooper.
And trust me, kids-trust me, Malcolm- she tried to tell Jack sooner. She
struggled with the secret. She wanted to tell Jack so many times before the
night she finally did. (Page 224)
Secrets in relationships are very common in the novel “The
Wednesday Letters”. All of the conflicts
that arise between characters begin because secrets are revealed. The major
secret that most of the novel revolves around involves Malcolm’s parents, Jack
and Laurel Cooper who have been hiding something from Malcolm since the day he
was born. Later on, when the secret is revealed after the death of Jack and
Laurel Cooper, Malcolm’s trust in people is altered forever. In the Epilogue,
Malcolm confides the secret of who his biological father is to his son Noah as
he leaves him to begin his life in college. Once revealed, the secret of Malcolm’s true
biological father has the effect of bringing everyone closer together.
Temper- Mood Emotion
“Mal? You okay, Brother?”
“You knew.”
“About this?” Matthew recoiled in shock.
“About everything”
“Malcolm you’re wrong, I had-“
“You knew!”
Malcolm rose quickly, knocking his chair over and pushing Samantha and Allyson
away. He circled the table towards his brother. “Stand up you liar!”
“Malcolm, calm down-“
“You kept this from me
because it made you special!” Malcolm’s screams rang through the
house. He swept his arm across the table
in a wide semi- circle, throwing piles of letters flying into the air and
scattering them across the room. (Pages 224,225)
Malcolm Cooper is a very emotional man, who looses his
temper frequently throughout the novel. Usually his temper outbursts are from jealous
outrages over attention that Rain receives from other men. However, as his
father Jack feared, Malcolm does not handle the newfound information, that his
father is not who he thought he was well. This surprise information sends
Malcolm into a tailspin of emotion. He thinks his mother is a liar and a
cheater, and he believes that everyone, especially Matthew knew this secret. He
is very volatile when he is upset and takes it out on everyone around him.
Understanding- Theme
“ What about Dad?” Matthew asked. “How could she deceive
him? Didn’t she betray him by not telling him the truth?”
“Your mother was afraid. She was afraid telling your dad would
fill him with guilt and anger he’d never let go,” Allyson said “ No question,
love, but your mother was committed to keeping the baby. She never seriously
considered the alternative. She believed God sent you. That He sent you, Malcolm, to the earth. You were a
life. You were a sole. She wasn’t going to end that. Once conceived, you were a
life. Period. “ (Page 223)
“ I am here because mother believed in life at any cost.
Following that voice, in a way few women could have, was a modern day miracle.
There is no scale to measure that strength. “ (Epilogue)
At the beginning of finding out this news, Malcolm struggles
to understand why his mother lied and kept this secret from him for so long. Malcolm
and his siblings later grow to understand that although their mother was raped,
she made the decision to continue with the pregnancy of Malcolm. She believed that this had happened for a
reason and the life conceived was not her choice to end. Malcolm learns to understand the sacrifice
his mother made for him by giving birth to him and truly appreciate her strength.
Victim- Character Development
Allyson looked at Malcolm and shook her head, her shoulders
swaying. “A few minutes after falling asleep,” Allyson’s breathing and pace
quickened. “No one was sure how long it was… she woke up with a man on top of
her. His eyes were bloodshot and crazy. He pinned her. He ripped her blouse. He
touched her.” She looked at Samantha, whose mouth was open, her eyes filling
with tears. “He forced himself on her,” Allyson said quietly.
“No,” Malcolm whispered.
“Yes. Your mother was raped.”
Sadly, a plot twist that is revealed in the novel is that
Laurel Cooper was a victim of rape. Laurel is ashamed to the point where she
doesn’t tell anyone, not even her husband. Guilty, she wishes she could take
back the entire night and listened to Jack about not living so close to a
shelter, working late evening shifts, trying to make ends meet. Laurel’s sister
Allyson tells the children how even though she tried to convince her sister to
get an abortion when she found out she was pregnant, Laurel insisted on
carrying on with the pregnancy.
Wednesday- Vocabulary & Symbolism
“ Get this Rain, we found some letters last night. There are
probably hundreds of them-“
“Thousands, “ Malcolm interrupted.
“He’s right,” Matthew added. “There could be a couple
thousand. It looks like dad wrote our mom every Wednesday.”
“Every Wednesday?” Rain looked incredulous.
Matthew nodded. “It’s quite a treasure trove.” (Page 134)
“Did you know that dad wrote love letters?” Matthew gestured
across the table with both hands.
“Oh you mean the Wednesday Letters?” responded Allyson.
“You knew?”
“I was your mother’s best friend, as well as her sister, of
course I knew.” (Page 160)
Wednesday is a symbolic day in this novel because it is the
day that Jack chooses to write to his soul mate and wife, Laurel every single
week for forty years. Some weeks Jack didn’t know what to write about or was
too upset to write, but since he made a promise, he wrote each Wednesday no
matter what. The Wednesday Letters represent the love he felt for his wife and
the commitment he made to her on their wedding day. In the end, there were thousands of letters
involving love, trust and their everyday life together. Jack’s final letter to
Laurel was written on Wednesday evening, April 13th, 1988 shortly
after Laurel passed away. Later on in
life, Malcolm carries on this tradition of writing to his wife, Rain every
Wednesday like his father.
eXcitement – Mood/Emotion
“Six minutes later Matthew tore open the door. “I’m going to
be a dad!” He flew down the stairs screaming, “Yeaaaaaah!” He slid into the
foyer on his black dress socks and had to back up to see Allyson sitting at the
dining room table. He held up and 8x10 photograph of a beautiful, bald,
bright-eyed African- American baby. “This is my son!” (Page 251)
The eldest son Matthew and his wife Monica have been
struggling for years to adopt a child. When they hear about the death of Jack
and Laurel, they are very close to being able to finally adopt a baby,
therefore Monica is unable to go up to the Inn the day Matthew does. The day of
the funeral Monica surprises Matthew with news that they have succeeded with
the adoption of a baby boy and they decide to name him Jack. The excitement
that Matthew displays makes it obvious just how ready he is to be a father and
the entire family celebrates in joy.
Youth-Character Development
“Her eyes closed; she prayed for each of her children-
Matthew, Malcolm and Samantha.” (Page 1)
“Soon our lives will be history for our three children. An
open book, quite literally. I have long suspected that Malcolm will most
appreciate the letters. He has always been the wordsmith. Matthew will find
them mysterious. Samantha will have to be pulled from them by ten men. She
might not sleep for weeks. I hope all three of them will learn from them.”(Page
268)
Jack and Laurel Cooper have three children, the oldest being
Matthew, middle being Malcolm and youngest being Samantha. These three siblings used to be closer when
they were younger, but as life moved on for them, they slowly grew apart. When
they find out about their parent’s death, they come together for the funeral
and old memories are renewed. The three of them become closer than ever after
the passing of their parent’s and begin to learn more about one another once
they begin reading the letters that Jack wrote to Laurel. At first the three of
them are shocked about the letters, but after reading about all of their
parent’s experiences, many life lessons are learned.
Zigzag- Metaphor
“Neither his parents or siblings had spoken to Malcolm in
over a year. An occasional postcard from a remote location in South America was
usually all they received since his sudden departure from Woodstock two years
earlier.” (Page 20)
“Mother and Father are dead.”
“What? Sammie?”
“They’re gone Mal.” Samantha repeated.
“I’m coming home.” He finally said. (Pages 18,19)
“You knew Mom was raped!
You knew I was different!” (Page 225)
A zigzag can represent the life of Malcolm Cooper because it
is very unpredictable. Every day his life takes him in a new direction whether
it’s forwards, backwards, up or down. At the beginning of the novel, Malcolm is
in Brazil, escaping from the one he loves, but cannot be with because she is
marrying someone else. While Malcolm is enjoying a beautiful day writing and
taking pictures in Brazil, he receives the news that both of his parents have
passed away and quickly has to return home.
Upon returning home, he finds out the person who he loves has called of
her engagement which excites Malcolm, but there is too much else going on to
pursue a relationship. Right when Malcolm is starting to accept the passing of
his parents, his life goes in another direction, finding out he is not the son
of his father and that his mother was unfortunately raped. Gradually, Malcolm
takes many roads in life to put the pieces of his life back together and accept
what happened in the past.
