Comparsion Of Both The Topsiders And The Downsiders

Gisele Bundchen once said “I feel like when people judge me they're not judging me, because they don't know who I am.” This quote means, to not judge a book by its cover. In Shusterman’s dystopian novel, Downsiders both the Topsiders and the Downsiders both judge each other based on unrealistic claims. The Downsiders think that the Topsiders have stupid beliefs and, do stupid things.However, once learning of the Downsiders’ the Topsider’s views on the Downsiders are not much better. Both the Topsider’s and the Downsiders consider each other to be “lesser” and, through this they will never completely understand each other. This judgement of each other makes the theme of the book “take the time to learn about others before you judge them.”

The quote “You think just because we got stars up here we can wish on 'em and make everything better (pg 75)” This quote shows not only shows what Lindsay was thinking but, it also paints a picture of Lindsay reacting with anger, to what Talon said about the topside. This quote and, literary device both support the theme because, they both show how much Talon did not know about the Topsiders and, yet he still judged them. However, by the end of the book Talon has progressed and learned much from his time with the Topsiders.
Over the course of Downsiders Talon progressed a lot. In the beginning of the book Talon does not yet know anything about the Topside and, makes judgments based on stories; however, he understands that he know nothing of the topside so, he tries to keep his judgments to a minimum. “But, Talon wasn’t so quick to pass judgment” (pg 16). Talon makes his first real connection with the Topside on page 53, where he meets Lindsay. During the course of the meeting he learns a lot about the lifestyle of the Topsiders but, he does not yet understand it. On page 93 Talon learns how their two worlds are not all too different. But, in reality Talon continues to learn about the Topsiders all the way until page 244 of the

Talons setting and, his story is explained through out the first 50 pages. Talon is first called ot action on page 23; where his little sister is sick and, he has to go into the Topside to find medicine for her. He is reluctant however, he visits The Champ and The Champ gives his a list of medicines that should be able to help his sister.We see Talon crossing the threshold at Lindsay’s house. However, Lindsay’s house is not the innermost cave; instead, Lindsay is one of Talon’s helpers. Talon only reaches the innermost cave on pages 192 and 193. On those two pages Lindsay shows Talon w innermost cave on page 207. This is where he finally enters the Place of First Runes. He endures the supreme ordeal when he talks to the grave of the inventor. Talon actually gained the sword when he came back to life but, now he seized that power. Using this power he goes to the Downsiders and tells them the truth to how they got to the Downside. Then, Talon tells all of the Downsiders to blow the sewers up and, through this make sure that the topsiders never learn about the