Symbolism In Chris Crutcher's Whale Talk

Harvey Fierstein once said, “Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one's definition of your life; define yourself.” In the book, Whale Talk by Chris Crutcher, a boy named Rich Marshall could be considered a villain because of the actions and language that he uses. Chris Coughlin’s half-brother, Brian lost his life after a rock-climbing accident that went wrong in the spring of his senior year. The main focus throughout the duration of the book is bullying; tone, symbolization, and modern connections help provide the understanding that bullying is a never- ending issue. The villains and the hero of the world both have the right to exist, they both have a purpose and what we learn from them helps everyone

A symbol is when an object, person, or situation has another meaning other than its literal meaning. As the reader progresses through the book, a letter jacket that continues to be discussed. The letter jacket has more meaning to one individual than just the physical appearance of it. On page 22 of the novel, the author explains what the jacket means to Chris by saying, “It belonged to your brother, Chris. You wear it. If Barbour gives you any more trouble, you can come tell me, okay?” This quote helps clarify the meaning behind the jacket. Brian who died was kind to everyone and was great at everything he did, while Chris is not the brightest and gives the jacket to TJ. Chris is stating that you are also kind and great at what you

That is why we should, “Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one's definition of your life; define yourself” (Harvey Fierstein). Sometimes, turning our cheek the other way is not always the correct answer because we never know what someone else is going through in their personal life. Standing up for someone who is bullied can be hard but sometimes it is extremely necessary and needed for that person. Students have a higher tendency to be isolated from others or are even unable to identify the emotions or feelings of others. People need to find a purpose in their lives and see themselves through someone else’s eyes. Helping others like how all the misfits on the swim team come together to make others great, in return they make themselves better. The whales songs goes for miles through the ocean so others can learn their lessons. We too need to listen so we can