How Does Max's Panics Change Throughout The Novel

In the novel, The Jaguar Stones: Middleworld, by J&P Voelkel, Max Murphy, one of the main protagonists, is portrayed as an extremely fearful and panicked character because he panics the chance of his survival and fears his future. Max shows his uncontrolled fear and panic in many situations. However, in this scene, they are traveling through the rapid and dangerous waters. As their raft lurched to a stop and the river disappeared under the rock, Max said, “‘Now what? We’re trapped! You said you knew the way’ Max was panicking” (Voelkel 137). Max was yelling to Lola in frustration, as she had apparently been experienced in waters like this. In this life-changing situation, either to find a safe and quick way or out or never make to the other

In these matters, where things do not go as desired, Max also had the tendency to find no sense of hope and practically, finds it nearly impossible to make it through his struggles, and loses confidence in himself. Additionally, by blaming Lola, it makes the tensions even more stressful as it leaves Lola by herself to solve matters, as Max does not understand what to do under that extreme phase of panic. Max’s fear and panic is further seen in the novel after the old man’s advice to finding his parents. As Max was analyzing the man’s advice, he “tried to see the funny side of it. Here he was, face-to-face with a Maya wise man in the heart of the rainforest, and the mantra he got to guide him through life was ‘trust the howlers.’...But no matter how hard he tried to make light of it, Max felt sick with fear and panic” (Voelkel 185). Even though Max might try to think on the bright side, he is still scarred inside with fear and panic as to what will happen to his parents. However having such vague and unrealistic advice from an old and experienced man is what makes it hard for Max to think about this positively and have