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Unbroken Character Analysis

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Unbroken is the best word that can be used to describe Louie Zamperini. In the book Unbroken, by Laura Hillenbrand, there are three other adjectives that can be used to describe Louie Zamperini, the main character. These adjectives are determined, compassionate, and defiant. These attributes can be proven through not only Louie’s actions, but his thoughts as well. These are the three different characteristics of Louie.

Determination is something displayed by Louie Zamperini all throughout the novel, from his career as an athlete to his journey in the Japanese prison camps. One part in this book where Louie shows he is determined is when he strives to go to the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Instead of trying out for the mile event, he starts training …show more content…

One event in which Louie shows his defiance is in childhood, where he is shown as being rebellious, incorrigible, and troublesome. In the book, it says, “to get even with a railcar conductor who wouldn’t stop for him, Louie greased the rails...when a teacher made him stand in a corner for spitballing, he deflated her car with toothpicks.” (pg. 7) This shows defiance because Louie never followed the rules and was always seeking revenge, proving that he is defiant. Another part in the book where Louie shows this trait is when he finishes running the 5,000 meter race at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. “Studying the building, Louie spotted a small Nazi flag near the doors...it would make a swell souvenir, and it looked easy to reach...taking one last lunge for the flag, Louie snagged the edge and fell to the pavement, tearing the banner down with him, then scrambled to his feet and ran like mad...the Germans gave him the flag and let him go.” (pg. 37) This proves Louie is defiant because he stole the flag with complete disregard for authority, behavior that can be described as defiant. That is how Louie is defiant in Unbroken.

All in all, the life of Louie Zamperini portrayed in the novel Unbroken, by Laura Hillenbrand, clearly illustrates Louie as being determined, compassionate, and defiant. These attributes are what made him such an incorrigible child, a prodigious athlete and what kept him alive in his journey through World War II. These personality traits and the story of Louie’s life are the true meanings of the word

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and then I ran like mad. ”(34) Louie’s life began to change when his older brother Pete convinced him to try out for track. He began to enjoy the sport and was good at it. He started spending all his time training for the Olympics.

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Unbroken, pgs. 1-80 Some events that do not describe a hero in Louie Zamperini in the novel Unbroken is when he was young he stole anything edible, and he also ran away often. Louie was a kid that snuck into games and was letting people get in for free. Louie started to drink at the age eight. Another thing Louie did was rob people he had stashes of food loot and even alcohol; he would spit spit balls around the class and his teacher would make him stand in the corner so he deflated his teacher's car tires. Usually hero’s have good grades always follow rules never do anything bad, but Louie was the complete opposite you would not expect anything good from a kid like him.

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Unbroken is a biography by Laura Hillenbrand about the life of Louis Zamperini. The story begins with Louis’ early life, growing up in Torrance, California. In high school, Louie began running for his high school track team, and broke the high school national record for the one-mile run. He competed in the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, and was drafted into the Army Air Corps in WWII. On a mission, his plane crashed into the Pacific Ocean and two others survived with him.

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As a boy who frequently found himself running away from the police, Louie’s perseverance defined him even in childhood. Louie stated, “‘...and then I ran like mad.’ He was often

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My first trait about Louie Zamperini is rebellious. Louie was a little kid when he started to get into mischief. “In 1919, when two-year- old Louie was sick with pneumonia, he climbed out his bedroom window, descended on story, and went on a naked dash through town with a policeman chasing him and a crowd watching in amazement” (6 & 7). Louis, when he was a little boy

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Evidence of his untameable determination can be found on page 183 where the text states “The raido tokyo man brought him pen and paper and set to work. Knowing that his family might not that it was really he, he added details that he hoped would convince them.” This shows louie’s determination to see his family again and talk with them again. He is willing to go on a propaganda broadcast to reassure his family that he is alive and well. More evidence of his determination can be found on page 242 where the text states “Before their walk was done, he had talked her into marrying him.

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This causes the Olympics to be suspended. Louie becomes depressed because he is not sure what to do with his life now, so he enlists in the Army Air Corps in 1941. While in his military training, Louie becomes a very skilled bombardier. Louie changes his focus from running, to serving in the Army.

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The three-time United States Track and Field Olympic champion, Gail Devers once said, “Sometimes we fall, sometimes we stumble, but we can’t stay down. We can’t allow life to beat us down. Everything happens for a reason, and it builds character in us, and it tells us what we are about and how strong we really are when we didn’t think we could be that strong.” In the non-fiction book Unbroken, by Laura Hillenbrand, protagonist Louis Zamperini demonstrates his everlasting perseverance through his everyday actions. Like Devers believed, the resilient Zamperini refused to be defeated or demoralized and did everything in his power to keep his feet on the ground and his chin up.

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Louie started a camp for boys named “Victory Boys camp”. He would take boys who had been in prison or juvenile school and be a mentor and attempt to put them down the right path for their life. He also spoke of the free gift God gives to everyone of eternal life. “He went easy on Christianity, but laid it before them as an option. Some were convinced, some not, but either way, boys who arrived at Victory as ruffians often left it renewed and reformed.”

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He moved on from high school and set his eyes on the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Louie “lived and breathed the 1,500 meters and Berlin. ”(22) Louie couldn’t get into what he could do best which was the 1,500 meters because “he couldn’t force his body to improve quickly enough to catch his older rivals by summer. He was heartbroken.

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