Character development is an important part of novels because they help the reader understand and relate to the story more. In A Death-Struck Year by Makiia Lucier, one of the characters with the most significant development is Cleo Berry. In the beginning of the book, Cleo is a typical seventeen year old who goes to an all girls boarding school in Portland, Oregon, in 1918. After her parents passed away, her brother, Jack, and his wife Lucy have been taking care of her. Her guardians are on an anniversary trip as her boarding school shuts down due to the Spanish Influenza breaking out, and everything changes. At first, Cleo doesn’t understand the severity of this situation and hopes that the outbreak will just pass and not affect her, but Cleos perspective changes when she …show more content…
The author developed Cleo Berry from an innocent sheltered teenager to a fearless and mature adult through her newfound responsibility and purpose, new relationships with others, and how she has a new set of priorities. Throughout the book, Cleo’s life has a newfound sense of purpose and responsibility. One key event that the author added in which shows Cleo’s transformation is her decision to volunteer as a nurse’s aid for the Red Cross. Cleo is initially unsure of this decision, however she becomes more confident as she witnesses the suffering of patients and the hard-working medical staff. After Cleo saves multiple families' lives, she is much more responsible and trustworthy than before, as she realizes that she is the reason why so many people had their lives saved. As Cleo is going to the store, there is someone in need of help as she says, “I tossed my coat on the counter. Pulled up my hat and shook my head. I rolled up my sleeves and got to work”(Lucier, 220). This quote shows that Cleo always puts others before herself, which is a very responsible