Question #8: Character Growth

[Lauren]

Which character (or characters) evolved the most over the course of the book? The least?

[Carol]

Hmmm. Good question. I'm going to think on this and come back. Well after giving this some thought, I do agree with Julie about Sandy. Sandy is a good person, and it took my favorite jerk of Roger to try to mold her into a person she was not. After getting over the heartbreak, and the people who cared for her were able to express their concern, she came to peace within her self and soul.

Another person that went through some significant changes was Abdul. Whether it was his religion, his family, his work, he came to some realizations that he knew he was evolving into.

[Julie]

I think Sandy's character evolved quite a bit- she starts off being very shallow and materialistic, but we get to see a tender, vulnerable side of her at the end. She ends up being much more relatable-- I mean who hasn't made regrettable (?) decisions based on coaxings of a boyfriend.

Initially I was going to say the Major evolved the least, as his moral character seems to be pretty sturdy. However, he did whisk Mrs. Ali off to the woods and ultimately realized he wasn't too wrapped up in the Churchill set after all, so I think even while he was fundamentally the same he definitely showed some change.

I think the society ladies changed the least-- I think their story will continue on with them still being silly and somewhat unaware. Grace being the possible exception to this.

[Ashley]

I agree, Jewels. I actually really felt for Sandy, even from the get-go. I could TOTALLY see myself being the American girlfriend/fiance/(wife) who does and says all the wrong things (oh wait, that's true), and I would also be the jerk who goes for an "authentic" English cottage by the most inauthentic route possible--buying crap that "looks" right, according to my own aesthetic preferences and biaes of what "looks" English. I'd totally be Sandy---except for the black Christmas tree.