Marta's Scat: Character Analysis

The famous English actress and singer, Kate Winslet, once said, “[It is] very easy to be judgmental until you know someone's truth.” This quote by Kate Winslet captures the essence of what the main character, Marta, learns in the young adult book, Scat, by Carl Hiaasen, not to be judgmental. For example, Marta was judgmental about Mrs. Starch, another character in the book, “until [she knew Mrs. Starch’s] truth.” Scat is about a teacher who is missing on a school field trip to the Black Vine Swamp. When a fire happened in the swamp, everyone in the school evacuated, but Mrs. Starch went back into the swamp to retrieve Libby’s lost inhaler. Then, she disappeared without a trace. Nick and Marta, who are students in Mrs. Starch’s class,

Marta shows that she changed from judgmental to less judgmental when Marta tearfully called, “Is [Mrs. Starch going to] die?” (Hiaasen, 337). Significantly, Marta feels concern towards Mrs. Starch for the first time. This shows that Marta fears for about Ms. Starch that she tearfully asked if the teacher is “[going to] die.” So, Marta was having fear for Ms. Starch whereas of having it due to her. Furthermore, Marta demonstrates that she is not judgmental about Mrs. Starch since she no longer assumes of cruelty of Mrs. Starch, and actually cares for her. By thinking this way, Marta develops a new attribute of being sympathetic and less judgmental. After this incident, Marta realizes how harsh she was towards several people, like Mrs. Starch. As a result, she becomes closer with Mrs. Starch. Overall, Marta learns to be less

The lesson that Marta learns remain an important one for all people across the world to learn since first impression is ordinarily wrong, which happens when one person judge others based on their outward appearance and initial impression. This might hurt others feelings and causing people to think wrongly about an individual, like Marta. Instead, society members should know each other further, before judging them, therefore they will not misunderstand the person. Hopefully, Scat will change individuals to become less judgmental, just like the main character, Marta, and thereby creating an improved society for everyone to