Example Essay for “Was Freak Lucky or Unlucky?”
How could a kid who suffered from a life-shortening illness be lucky? This question becomes relevant in
Rodman Philbrick’s realistic fictional novel Freak the Mighty. This novel features a tale of two adolescent boys—Kevin,
the boy whose internal organs are growing faster than he is, and Max—who team up together, in the fashion of the
Arthurian knights of old, and brave dragons in the form of knife-wielding bullies, handicaps, dangerous and
disappointing family members, and more. Although Kevin (also known as Freak) never lives to see his high-school
years, he was lucky for the following reasons: he experienced true friendship, embarked on real-life quests, and found a
chance to make his life meaningful.
As mentioned, Freak was lucky because he found true friendship in the unlikely form of Maxwell Kane. Max and
Freak first become partners whenever they realize that each has something that the other needs: Max needs a brain, and
Freak needs a body. However, Max shows that this partnership is actually real friendship after Freak almost chokes in the
school cafeteria. Mrs. Addison shows concern for Max, but all Max cares about is Freak’s welfare: “'It’s not me who had
quite a day’ I say. ‘Kevin is the one. All he did is try to eat lunch’” (Philbrick 87). This evidence shows that Max was so
concerned about Freak that he did not even remember the thing that upset him earlier that day—his father’s possible
return. Freak was truly fortunate during his short life to find a friend who put aside the horrific memories of his own past
in order to assure that his buddy was okay.
Freak was also lucky because the partnership of Freak the Mighty resulted in real-life quests. Throughout the
novel, Freak talks with great fondness about the tales of King Arthur and his knights. To Freak, these knights were like
robots that found a way to improve the human body, overcome daunting obstacles, rescue damsels in distress, etc. This
dream finally became a reality whenever Kevin and Max teamed up to become Freak the Mighty: they outwitted the
knife-wielding Tony D., rescued the damsel in/of distress (Loretta Lee), and vanquished the dragon—Killer Kane (37,
132-134). Freak the Mighty’s quests demonstrate that Freak found a chance to live out his life-long dream—to conduct
himself in the fashion of an Arthurian knight. Not many people get to fulfill their ultimate dreams, but Freak found a way
to accomplish this feat during the limited years he has on this planet.
Finally, Freak was mainly lucky because he discovered a way to make his life meaningful. Freak was captivated
by the idea of chivalry, a code that the Arthurian knights held in high esteem. This code consisted of selflessness,
gallantry, honor, bravery, loyalty, etc. Freak was so fascinated by this concept that he risked his life to save Max from
Killer Kane: “'Guess what I got for Christmas, Mr. Kane? . . . this squirt gun and . . . sulfuric acid’ . . . That’s when Freak
squeezes the trigger and sprays him [Killer Kane] right in the eyes” (131 & 132). Freak’s actions reveal the strong impact
that the ideas of chivalry had on him. Although some would argue that a boy whose life was cut tragically short is
unlucky, Freak found the opportunity to make his short life into a legacy. Thanks to Freak’s brave actions, Max found
inspiration to rise above his father’s murderous past and to conquer the fear that he had an unyielding mental handicap.
Few people—even those who live full lives—are able to inspire others the way that Freak did for his buddy Max.
In conclusion, because Freak found a true friend in Max, went on real-life quests, and made his life meaningful,
he was lucky even if his life was short. The friendship of Freak the Mighty was so strong that each friend was willing to
sacrifice his own welfare in order to ensure the safety of the other. Freak the Mighty’s quests were so fraught with
danger, bravery, and selflessness that they would have made the Arthurian knights proud, and Freak’s final actions forever
transformed his best friend into a boy who was no longer haunted by the past but inspired by his friend’s legacy.
Concerning the question of whether Freak was lucky or unlucky, the answer is easy. Freak’s illness may have cut short
his life, but it surely did not shorten his luck.
Works Cited
Philbrick, Rodman. Freak the Mighty. New York: Scholastic Inc., 1993.