Intro
Introduction - Growing up is difficult, especially when it is
a struggle to figure out one’s true identity.
Title and author: In Iain Lawrence’s novel Ghost Boy
Brief description: an albino boy named Harold Kline runs
away with the circus hoping to find a better life. Through
romance, conflicts and the accomplishment of training
elephants to play baseball he matures and returns home
with his identity firmly based on who he truly is rather
than just what he looks like.
Thesis: The theme: maturity is the result of identity based
on truth rather than false perception is supported and
developed through the narrative elements of character,
conflict and setting in the novel.
Body 1
A. TS: Firstly, the protagonist Harold Kline and the
characters he interacts with help to support the theme
of true identity resulting in maturity.
P: Harold demonstrates his lack of maturity at the
beginning of the novel when he runs away because his
identity is based solely on outer appearance and his
albinism.
E: At the Rattlesnake River fishing and later when he finds
a snakeskin Harold dreams of shedding his “show-white
skin […] and stepping from it tanned and dark”(47).
E: Harold does not like what he looks like and is stuck
believing that his identity and how people treat him
comes only from his looks and not from who he is
inside. It is this immature, false assumption that keeps
him from finding out who he really is and being
confident in that.
2. P: Harold also interacts with other characters
who have positive identities based on truth that
encourage him to mature and find his true
identity as well.
E: Tina, also known as Princess Minikin, is
described as “always happy, laughing her way
through crowds” (322).
E: Her happiness and self confidence, even
through the crowds of people that judge her,
allow her to love Harold for who he is and show
him what maturity and true identity look like so
that he can find it for himself.
3. P: Harold solidifies the theme at the end of the
novel when he realizes his identity comes from
himself and his accomplishments rather than the
opinions of others or his appearance. This
realization gives him maturity and confidence
that change the way he acts when he goes back
to Liberty,
E: “he walked steadily, quickly, his head held high
[…] Harold felt bigger and stronger than he ever
had” (321).
E: He is confident is his true identity and the other
children feel it and treat him according to his true
identity rather than their old false perceptions.
4. CS: In conclusion the protagonist Harold
Kline strongly supports and develops the
theme of maturity coming from true
identity in the novel.
Body 2
TS Similar to character, the conflicts in the novel support
and develop the theme of maturity from true identity
rather than false perception.
1. P: The person vs person conflict between Harold and
Roman Pinski, the tent rigger, develop the theme
because both boys desire the beautiful bareback rider
Flip Pharoah and Roman does not like Harold at first
sight because of his albinism.
E: Roman sneers, “It looks like Maggot’s making time with
you [Flip]” (208).
E: Roman calls Harold a Maggot because of his white skin
and not because of his personality or true self. He does
not want Harold spending time with his girlfriend. Harold
returns the feelings of jealousy and territory later in the
novel. Both boys act immaturely and insecurely because
their identities for self and other are based on false
perceptions, judgements and assumptions rather than
truth.
2. P: The person vs self conflict, that Harold experiences
as he struggles with himself throughout the novel, also
develops this theme. The intensity of this internal
conflict increases when Harold is forced to choose who
to identify himself with at dinnertime: the freaks or the
normals.
E: When the dinner bell rings the first time Tina comes to
get him, and Flip wants him to stay, “It’s time for
breakfast Harold.’ He looked at Flip, […] ‘You’ll eat
later; tell her that.’ […] ‘I can’t, […] I’m really sort of
busy.’ He regretted the words right away” (168).
E: Harold chooses to eat with Flip but regrets his decision
and connects it with the judgement he felt in the diner.
Because his identity is uncertain and not based on
mature truth his decisions are laboured and conflicted.
3. P: Lastly, there are several person vs society conflicts
that are based on false perceptions and unfair
judgements further developing and uncovering this
theme. At the diner, Harold, Samuel, Tina and Magda
are judged and turned away because of their
appearance rather than their kind and humble
personalities.
E: The woman at the diner exclaims, “You bunch of freaks.
You goddamn monsters,[…] What’s she going to make
of you? […] A midget, and a monkeyman. An old witch
and a boy like a ghost” (78-79).
E: These descriptions and judgements are based only on
appearance and demonstrate the lack of maturity,
experience and understanding of the woman who works
at the diner. The make clear why it is so difficult for
Harold and others to create an identity based on truth
when they are bombarded with hurtful false perceptions
at every turn.
• 4. CS: In conclusion the person vs
person, self and society conflicts in the
novel also support and develop the theme.
Body 3
• C.TS Finally, the setting also adds to the theme of maturity resulting
from true identity and immaturity and judgement resulting from false
perception.
• 1. P: The political situation and lack of education and experience of
the people in the Southern United States in the 1930s and 40s is a
breeding ground for judgement based on looks instead of truth.
•
• E: Even though they are participating in a war against the prejudice
of Jews they are at the same time promoting and following
segregation laws against African Americans because of the colour of
their skin. Harold too is judged infirm by his own step father Walter
Beesley only because of his skin colour, “You’re not a normal boy,
[…] You’re not like others,” (30).
•
E: It is this lack of experience and education about differences in
appearance that enable such strong prejudice and lack of
understanding to be present in the novel.
• 2. P: The circus is a key venue of the novel and
also contributes to the theme because the circus
makes money by ostracizing and emphasizing
the differences and false appearances of their
sideshow acts.
•
E: The announcer at the circus says, “ ‘Step
right up and see the freaks of nature!’ […] They
made Samuel seem twice as monstrous as he
really was, while Tina stood […] no bigger than
his thumb,” (242-243).
•
E: These descriptions once again are based
only on appearance and are exaggerated to
further take away any chance of true identity for
these people and to ensure profit by giving the
people what they already falsely believe.
3. P: Finally the religious beliefs of many of the people in
the novel also support judgement based on
appearance rather than mature examination of truth.
E: Harold’s step father describes the sideshow acts of the
circus as “dens of evil” (29), and the religious farmer in
Bible country is harsh in his first impressions of Samuel
and the Gypsy, calling them “devils” (101).
E: In both cases, they judge not based on personal
experience in these situations or with these people but
on narrow views that if people do not look like them
they are dangerous or evil. When the farmer does get
to know their true identity and personality his opinion
changes and he is more mature in how he interacts
with them, saying they are “good friends” to
Harold(111).
4. CS: In conclusion, the social conditions
and venue of the novel help foster the
false perceptions that are integral to the
theme and make it difficult for the
protagonist to find his true identity.
Conclusion
• Re-state thesis: In final consideration, the
theme maturity is the result of identity
based on truth rather than false perception
is supported and developed through the
protagonist, conflicts and setting in the
novel.
• Review key arguments: Harold develops
and matures with help from Tina as she
models the maturity that comes with true
identity. Furthermore, the person vs
society conflict in the diner and the circus
setting both show the danger and damage
of judging immaturely based on false
perception.
• Thought-provoking idea: The theme of
this novel is still an issue for society today
and its lesson can still be learned in order
to reduce unnecessary judgement and
conflict based on what is not true. This will
make it easier for teenagers and all people
to discover and have confidence in who
they truly are.