“Optimism isn't a belief that things will automatically get better, it is a conviction that we can make things better” - Melinda Gates. Optimism is not assuming today would be good, it is believing tomorrow is going to be better. Which is why the book “Brothers” is an overall optimistic novel. This is because Michael and Aisha had survived their grief and were able to live on as normal human beings. That in itself is very optimistic. Secondly, The last two paragraphs of Brothers heavily indicate optimism and reconciliation.
Firstly, Michael, Ruth, Jelly and Aisha had all survived their grief 10 years after the tragic events happened. To start, Aisha had returned to Scarborough after her fathers death, and connected with Michael yet again,
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To begin, in the last two paragraphs of Brothers, there are subtle hints that everyone, including Jelly, Aisha, Michael, and Ruth are all on the road to recovery. For example, when Aisha says “The pathway down should be clear enough to get close to the creek. We’ll be sure to go slow, Ruth. Maybe we could borrow a wheelchair. Jelly? Are you in?” (Chairandy 182). “The pathway down should be clear enough” (Chairandy 182) can be interpreted as the mental state of everyone, and how through various efforts, it is ready to start to recover. “We’ll be sure to go slow, Ruth. Maybe we could borrow a wheelchair.” (Chairandy 182) can be interpreted as they are willing to go back to how things were, represented by the creek, since Ruth used to go there with her kids when they were both alive. The wheelchair can be interpreted as external sources, such as therapists and other help. “We’ll be sure to go slow, Ruth. Maybe we could borrow a wheelchair.” (Chairandy 182) can be interpreted as they are willing to go back to how things were, represented by the creek, since Ruth used to go there with her kids when they were both alive. The wheelchair can be interpreted as external sources, such as therapists and other help. Secondly, almost any sentence in the last two paragraphs of brothers can be interpreted very deeply. For example: “He nods from the record player, flipping through Mother’s old albums, selecting one and checking for scratches. He cues it up.” “flipping through Mother’s old albums” can be interpreted as Ruths old and new memories, while “selecting one and checking for scratches'' can be interpreted as trauma or lasting grief on the memory, and Jelly cueing it up implies that Ruth is finally ready to let go. “Mother frowns slightly, as if in pain. Jelly fumbles to dial it down, but Mother shakes her head. Gestures upward. “Volume,” she says. “Mother frowns slightly, as if in pain” is