William Assad April 3, 2023 LA6F#2 Hidden Depths Could an unexpected connection help a troubled person find redemption, growth, and understanding? Arthur Owens, the misunderstood main character of Shelley Pearsall's The Seventh Most Important Thing, could be described as "A good heart under a flawed exterior." In this captivating novel, 13-year-old Arthur embarks on a transformative journey alongside the key characters known as ‘Squeak’ and ‘Junk Man’, facing life's challenges and discovering the importance of looking beyond appearances. Although Arthur commits a horrible crime, he is also a caring, sensitive, kind person who learns to look beyond appearances to find the hidden depths and potential for redemption within each person. Arthur's …show more content…
At first, Arthur thinks the Junk Man is strange and scary, not understanding why he does what he does. But as they work together, Arthur starts to see the deeper meaning in the Junk Man's actions. He learns about the "Seven Most Important Things" list and begins to respect the Junk Man's work, realizing that there's beauty and value in things others might ignore. “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.”: As they become closer, Arthur starts to care more about the Junk Man. For example, when the Junk Man gets sick, Arthur looks after him and even visits him in the hospital. In this important moment, Arthur shows loyalty and kindness by being there for the Junk Man despite being in an uncomfortable position (Pg. #137-140). This shows how much Arthur has grown, learning to see the good in others instead of judging them by their appearance like how people misjudged him at first. In the end, being kind to the Junk Man helps Arthur grow and understand the world better. Through their friendship, Arthur faces his problems and learns to help others. Their relationship shows us that even unexpected connections can lead to personal growth, healing, and a deeper understanding of the world and the people around us. As Arthur starts to see things from the Junk Man's perspective, he learns the value of empathy, kindness, and offering others a second