Josie Pharoah Ms. Czajkowski English 9 Due date: 3/12/23 Serpent King's Argumentative Essay In the novel The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner, we are introduced to a character named Lydia. Lydia is displayed as a hardworking and motivated person. But as the novel progresses she proves not to be a good friend to the other characters. Lydia is self-centered, judgemental, and ignorant of her privilege. Throughout the book, Lydia shows no desire to change and instead continues her selfish ways, making Lydia an unloyal friend. Lydia's ignorance of her privilege causes her to be oblivious to her friend's major life problems. Lydia grew up in a warm, welcoming home with two loving parents. Meanwhile, her friends are not as lucky. Her friends Travis and Dill grew up in cold, abusive low-income homes with poor family support. While Lydia was talking with her father, he opened up about an incident with Travis he had. Lydia's …show more content…
But as dill was going through a depressive stage after Travis's death Lydia decided to go to his house for the first time and check on him. Upon entering Dill’s house for the first time she immediately judges Dill for his rundown, hostile home instead of being understanding and having empathy for him. Her privilege should not affect her empathy for others. She should be more supportive knowing most people don't have it as good as her. As soon as Lydia walks in she states “A puff of air smelling of mildewed carpet and stale bread hit her nostrils... This is the smell of despair” (Zentner pg 286). Lydia was so oblivious to how bad Dill's home conditions are she immediately judges him for it. It is not Dill's fault, and Lydia’s readiness to judge a friend so harshly in a time of tragedy is telling. People may continue to say that Lydia can’t control her thoughts, but she can at least have empathy for Dill and his