Analysis Of Crispin, The Cross Of Lead

Crispin, The Cross of Lead, by Avi tells the story of a 13 year old boy who after his mother dies, is forced to run away to avoid being killed. While running away he meets Bear, who is a juggler and has very different ideas than what is customary to Crispin and many other Serfs in the Middle Ages. Crispin and Bear make their way to Great Wexly where they see Crispins greatest fear, the steward who has unjustly declared him a ‘wolfs head.’ With the help of Bear, Crispins ‘new self’ is able to face his fears and accomplish his dream becoming an independent man with Bear. As the events of the story complicate, Crispins character develops. In the beginning of the story, Crispin is weak and afraid of everything, by the middle of the story Crispin

After his mother's death he is forced to run away from his village or he could be killed by anyone. Running away gives him a chance to start over his life although it would be difficult. Crispin has been shunned by other people his whole life. He has had no other people beside his mother that he could ’trust’ and so as a result, he is afraid to ask for help and is terrified of most things. “It was always hard for me to look on others” (3). All he feels he can do is run away from his problems. Crispin views himself as a week unimportant person which makes it hard for him to chance. Crispin prays to God for solutions, but is not able to able to find what he was looking for. “O Great and Giving Jesus, I, who have no name, who am nothing, who does not know what to do, who is alone in Thy world, I implore Thy blessed help, or I’m undone” (21). Crispin believes he has a sin embedded in him which gives him motivation to keep moving on. This weight on this shoulders is constantly dragging him down forces him to look ahead and gives him no option but to run away. He constantly prays to God for a solution, but never seems to find what he is looking for. His prayers show us how weak Crispin truly thinks of himself as. Crispin thinks of himself as weak, but is slowly starting to gather the courage to step up to

Bear has many strange ideas that vex Crispin including an idea contrary to the middle ages where every man should be the master of himself and then Crispin starts to understand. “I fumbled for my cross and was about to pray for guidance, but found myself pausing. I had already asked God for much, and he had given in abundance. Perhaps it was time for me to make the decision myself” (138). The new crispin is able to show that he matters. He realises that every man should be able to make decisions for himself. Learning this allows him to gain confidence in himself and realise how he has power. Since his mother's death, Crispin has not had anyone to listen to him or even someone to talk to. “To my surprise there was a relief in speaking. How strange it was to have someone to listen to me” (94). Crispin is able to gain his confidence with the help of Bear and further strengthen his relationship with Bear. He has not had a chance to have someone listen to him and he realises what kind of life he has been living and how he needs to change. This shows how Bears strange ideas are affecting the way Crispin thinks and allowing his character to further