The Shape of Problems Cole Matthews permanently damaged a kid saying “he deserved it”. His life was a miserable mess and he used all of that anger and took it out on others. His interpersonal conflict shaped Cole to become that person. Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen is a book about Cole. Cole has a rough life with the abuse inflicted onto him. He used that abuse and took it out on others. When he goes to an island Cole goes through near death experiences and personal troubles to become a better person. Cole’s personal conflict shaped his life by having him forgive others, having him overcome his anger, and having him overall change as a person. Since Cole’s dad beat him and his mom avoided and neglected Cole he was a bad person. But, in order to change himself for the better he would have to get forgiveness from the very people he hurt. Cole wanted forgiveness from Peter. “ ‘Please forgive me! I didn’t mean to hurt Peter!’ “(193). This shows that Cole has really changed. From saying that Peter deserved to be beaten to near death, to begging for forgiveness. When Cole and Edwin were talking Edwin states “ ‘I think you’re getting to understanding the secret of …show more content…
“Cole on him again and started smashing his head against the sidewalk”(7). In the near ending of the book Peter goes back to the island. Cole feels bad about beating him and wants forgiveness. When Peter goes to the island he constantly torments Cole. “In the same spot where the bear carving had been destroyed, Peter has almost completed another bear. The new carving was so real, the bear looked as if it were stepping out of the log. ‘That’s incredible…’ “ (232). Instead of beating Peter again he awed in what he had done to Cole;s work in progress carving. A person changing themselves for the better can shape their conflict. If the perspective is happy go lucky then their life will be