The book My Sister’s Keeper is a heart wrenching read with a tragic end and, really, it’s that characters that make it so. They’re all so well-rounded, so descriptive, so emotionally appealing that you can’t help but feel they’re people who have lived across the street from you for years. Neighbours you just begun to get to know and understand. There are so many characters in this book, so I must pick and choose the ones I try to explain. I’ll analyze the three most important characters in this blog.
Anna Fitzgerald is by far the most conflicted and troubled character in this book. The thirteen year old is constantly trying to separate herself from her extremely sick sister. She is searching for her identity so that she might fill out her sister’s wish to die properly. But, she also tells Campbell that out of all the things she wants to be in ten years, she wants to Kate’s sister the most. These two ideals of wanting nothing more than for her sister to live, and her wish that her sister would die so she might be independent are contradictory and make up the core of Anna’s character. In trying to make herself play the role of the awful child after suing her parents to fulfil her sister’s wish, she tries smoking and being more like her older brother Jesse. Though the entire lawsuit brings her tremendous guilt, she keeps it going so she might give her sister her wish. This also plays into the idea that pops up over and over that she was conceived for one reason; Kate’s illness. At the end of the book, it would seem as though Anna did what she was conceived to do, cure her sister.
Sara Fitzgerald is the most controversial character in this book. People both empathize and criticize her character for the decision she makes throughout the book. Though, really, what would you have done in her situation? Could you have done any better? This is not to say that she was the best mother; she was blinded by her daughter Kate’s illness and completely gave up on her son, Jesse, while managing to make her other daughter, Anna, fell completely and utterly invisible. There is never a doubt that she loves both Anna and Jesse, but it seems that all her relationships (including those with her husband, Brian, and her sister, Suzanne) revolve around Kate. For instance, the only times she ever really sees her sister is when she needs her to babysit Jesse and Anna, and finds it difficult to talk to her husband about anything other than Kate’s illness. Even with Kate she focuses more on her daughter’s physical health than her mental health. Sara is unable to truly understand her children throughout most of the book.
Campbell Alexander develops emotionally throughout the novel. He starts off as a sarcastic, aloof, selfish person who avoids all emotional contact; his only friend being his service dog, Judge. This persona begins to unravel though as he takes Anna Fitzgerald’s lawsuit against her parents, at first taking it just to gain more publicity and credit for his pro bono work. Soon after taking the case, it’s assigned a guardian ad litem; his old girlfriend name Julia. This brings up more problems for him as he is unable to get over the feelings he still has for her, helping him open up more as she convinces him to really get to know Anna. In the end, Campbell (though still sarcastic) is more trusting, open, and truly cares for Anna and her family. He also ends up showing his disability to all those he has come to care for in court, and winds up with Julia, fulfilling the longing they’ve both felt for so long.
You may disagree with my choices for the three most important characters, but I do hope my analyses have given you more to think about. Here are some questions I’ve drawn up to get you thinking some more:
1. Who was your favourite character? Why?
2. What character did you feel you really connected to? Why?
3. Do you empathize or criticize Sara’s character? Why?
4. Do you feel that Anna already had an identity of her own? Why or why not?
5. What do you think was the main reason for Sara’s focus on Kate’s physical health?
6. What do you think is the key trait in Anna’s character? Did it add or take away from the story?
7. Who do you think was the lead protagonist? Why?
8. Who was the antagonistic character? Why?
9. Does Anna show emotional development throughout the novel? Expand.
10. What does Campbell’s character development add to the story?
Q: Who was your favorite character? Why?
ReplyDeleteA: My favorite character is Brian. I love that, in contrast with his wife Sara, he cares for all his children. He is very concerned about Anna. He is not as sure as Sara that it is okay for them to use her to save Kate. He respects Anna’s lawsuit seeking medical emancipation, and even moves her in to the fire station with him so that Sara does not sway her. I also enjoy his fascination with astronomy. He often uses it as a way to bond with Anna; he even tells her that she was named after the constellation Andromeda.
Q: Do you empathize or criticize Sara’s character? Why?
A: I empathize and criticize Sara’s character. I could not imagine what it would be like to have your daughter diagnosed with cancer at such a young age. At the same time, I do not agree with her methods of dealing with the situation. I would like to think that I would not engineer a child to save another one because they would always be the savior. Like Anna, they would struggle to find themselves, and feel a great amount of responsibility as a child. I criticize how Sara neglects Jesse and Anna. In part of the story, Jesse is young and wants to buy soccer shoes after he gets his hair cut. Sara decides not to follow up on her promises because of an issue with Kate. Jesse starts crying and tells her that the world does not revolve around Kate. Sara uses Anna, and makes her go through several risky and painful operations. Whereas Brian comforts Anna and is worried about her, Sara dismisses her problems because she does not view them to be as important as Kate’s problems. Sara is often portrayed as a cold mother towards Jesse and Anna.
[Answered by Nicole Hajjar]