Reading Journal for “the body”
The book and the movie portrayed many themes and elements such as growing up, hero’s journey. In this final reading journal, I want to cover one of the most important elements of the book and the movie, friendship. The main story is the four boys going through the journey, so the friendship between the four boys is handled importantly, and the boys learn about friendship through the journey. We can also learn about friendship through the journey,
Chris Chambers thinks that Gordie’s friends are dragging Gordie down. He contends that they hinders Gordie from achieving his dream as a writer. Chris persuades Gordie because he is one of the boys who can’t achieve or do what they want to do because of their environment. Gordie’s poor and bad family background caused him to be accused as a thief and can’t go to college. He understands what it is like to abandon the dream because of the family. Gordie goes through serious internal conflict. He doesn’t want to part with his friends, but he likes writing novels. Gordie even dreams about these friends dragging him to the water, to make him drown. By the time the journey is finished, Gordie realizes that giving up his dream because of friend is foolish, that it’s dying together. Gordie decides to pursue his dream.
In the conclusion of the book, all boys die except for Gordon, if he hadn’t made a decision and stayed with his friends, he might have probably met the same fate. Sometimes, you have to abandon your friends if your friends are dragging you to the wrong decision. Well, the best scenario is to go to the right direction with your friends, but when it’s impossible at least you should survive. Or otherwise, you will drown together with your friends.
Although they went through a journey and got close by the journey they eventually split up and go their own way. Gordie, Vern and Teddy become estranged. Friends come in and out of our lives, like busboys in a restaurant. Gordie realizes that friendship is not something that lasts permanently, but is a thing that can be ephemeral
When I read the book and finished watching the movie, I thought I wish I had a friend like Chris. Chris is the one who encourages Gordie to pursue his writing career. Even Gordie’s parents who should be trying to help Gordie pursue his dream ignore Gordie’s writing. However, Chris trusts Gordie and keep encourages Gordie.
