Family Expectations In The Serpent King, Dill Early

Family expectations can often bring a lot of pressure; luckly good friendships can relieve some of that pressure. In Jeff Zentner’s novel The Serpent King, Dill Early, the main character, struggles with his family’s expectations, but fortunately has two supportive friends, who make him see what he is really worth. The reality of the pressures Dill’s family places upon him is soothed by the solid presence of his best friends.

Friendships can save a person when they feel like they have nothing left. After Travis's death, Dill descends into deep depression. Lydia is incredibly worried about Dill, especially about him possibly killing himself. She tells him “You know how bad you hurt right now. I would feel that times a hundred times a million if anything happened to you” (Zentner 291). If Dill would have slipped away, Lydia would have felt awful that she couldn't save her friend that desperately needed her strength. Friendship makes a major impact in people's lives, especially in a case like this. Dill's friendship with Lydia is so important to him, that he was willing to stay alive and fight for it. Having a

Before going off to college Dill went to prison to see his Dad one last time. After Dill realized that he needed a clean start to have a better future he decided to tell his father. Dill has finally escaped the chains of his father when he says, “I’m going to college. I am going to have a better life than this. That's all there is to explain” (Zentner 362). When Dill stepped up to his father he changed his life by making it real clear that he was going to have a future that he was proud of. His father felt betrayed because he isn’t following the serpent king path and is not following god's laws.His father tries to make Dill feel selfish for abandoning his mother and leaving his family behind. Without Dill taking these big first steps his family would continue dragging him down with