While thinking about the Tillerman children, I was reminded of numerous other siblings that are largely written into “types,” both to make it easier to differentiate between them all, and also to allow different interactions between each character and the trials they must face. The two most obvious comparisons I thought of were the Alden children of the
Boxcar Children series, and the Pevensies of the
Narnia series. Both families have two boys and two girls, both go on adventures without parents, and the Aldens in particular, find themselves living with their grandfather after their parents die. A couple of others are the March sisters of
Little Women, and basically any of the sister groups from a Jane Austen novel, but the Bennets of
Pride and Prejudice in particular.
I know that I, as an only child, am always fascinated by sibling dynamics both in real life and in literature. Having multiple protagonists around the same age and with the same background seems like an ideal way for an author to present a common obstacle, and the many ways a person might deal with that obstacle. Thus, the author can stretch their creativity by creating separate, though equally relatable characters who must make decisions based on their own individual personalities. A reader will engage best with the character they find most relatable, based on how the character deals with that obstacle. Reading a book is pretty difficult when you feel you can’t relate to any of the characters, and I think this is especially true for children who are very egotistical, and often want to read about someone just like themselves.
In
Dicey’s Song, probably the main obstacle the children face is fitting into their new lives with Gram. All of the kids go about this differently, and they must all overcome other individual hurtles as well to finally feel “at home”. James, book-reading genius extraordinaire, dumbs himself down considerably in an attempt to fit in with the rest of his average classmates, and though he still gets good grades, his whole outlook is based on what he can do to make himself liked by his classmates. This changes when he essentially “puts himself out there” and makes friends with a peer, just for being himself.
Maybeth, on the other hand, continues down her path as an illiterate third grade outcast in her new home, still unable to read and so terrified of making a mistake and getting ridiculed that she virtually disappears in class. Her love and talent for music, however, shows us a whole other side of her, and the realization that she needs to learn differently than her peers puts her on the right track.
Sammy, meanwhile, tries to turn over a new leaf at school, by becoming a little angel instead of that kid in detention for fighting for the hundredth time. He experiences great conflict between wanting to stick up for his grandmother and letting the rumors and insults roll off his back. It is only after Gram shows him (and the other students) that she is made of tougher stuff than he thinks that Sammy is able to stop trying to protect her.
Finally, Dicey must struggle with her new role as a child (ironically enough), and not as a mother to the other kids, yet must also try to balance her role as a child with her role as a young woman, (whether she likes it or not). Dicey spent her whole life gradually becoming more like a mother-figure to her younger siblings than their actual mother, but then must cede this identity to Gram, and accept her role as someone to be taken care of, and not necessarily someone that has to take care of others. She ends up reconciling her roles as parent and child by forming a sort of co-parenting relationship with Gram.
Thus, by the end of the novel, the children are well on their way to fitting into their new home and new life, but with very different paths to that same end.
For a book about four real-life sibling that lost their parents and each other (at least for a time), you might want to check out
The Kids Are All Right by Diana, Liz, Amanda, and Dan Welch, which is told from their alternating perspectives.
Hey group buddy! Interesting post! As silly as I may sound right now, I did not even think about the connection of the four children. It is so true that so many of the novels in children's literature focus on a family with four children in it. I loved this book! My favorite by far!
ReplyDeleteI agree, I never even made the connection with the groups of four children! It is funny too since I have three brothers (2 adopted). But I think the difference is they work so well in the face of adversity. Although in Narnia there is more disagreements they eventually learn to live together and work well without much disagreement. I cannot fathom ever going through a hardship with my three brothers, they're all 20 and sometimes I wonder if they ever grew up past 13. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I think the point you made about being able to relate to one of the different children in families is really interesting. When dealing with some of the tougher issues in life, it is great to have four (or however many) different personalities to show children that there is more than one way to deal with a particular problem. I think it also helps that the children are of different ages.
ReplyDeleteAfter having done my author study on Gertrude Warner (author of the children's series The Boxcar Children), I found many of the same parallels that you did with Dicey's Song. The idea of young readers having the freedom to pick from a variety of characters (in this case, four siblings) allows a greater spectrum of relability for the entire children reader population. I would agree that children are egotistical and looking for characters that they can consider themselves to be. That being said, all children that have siblings can feel for Dicey's situation of care and concern for her siblings while also having to battle through her own struggles. The use of Voigt and Warner's decision to include two boys and two girls allows readers options to whom they can relate with most of all!
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