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The Legacy of a Writer: Theodore Taylor
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by
Joe Smith
Advanced English 7
Mrs. Barnhart
3 October 2008
Smith 1
The best writers and the most interesting novels make history come alive and teach great themes
of life. That is true of Theodore Taylor whose best known novel, The Cay makes the readers feel like
the time period of World War II is now, and the novel reminds its readers the important lesson about
getting to know someone before making judgments. Because Taylor was alive during World War II, he
has the experience to understand what a difficult time period that was in world history: there were still a
lot of prejudice, and the fear of battle loomed in many places all over the world. Many generations later
people read The Cay and feel for the characters and understand the difficulties of that time because of
how Taylor wrote. Theodore Taylor’s success as a writer is well-deserved, but that was not his only
career; ultimately all his life experiences made him a more profound writer, and important life lessons in
his novels are what he left behind.
Theodore Taylor was most famous for his writing career and accomplishments, but what many
people do not know about is his role in the military. His first role was as a writer for his local paper, and
his first real job when he was seventeen as a copyboy which only earned him eleven dollars a week
(“Theodore Taylor” 1). After serving many roles in the military, he came back to writing and wrote
short stories, novelettes, and novels for both children and adults. His most successful and well-known
novel, The Cay, is a book he wrote in 1969. He won eleven awards for this novel and it is in print “14
foreign countries and has passed four million copies in publication” (Theodore Taylor 1). Before he was
known as this award winning writer, he paid his dues in the Navy and in the Merchant Marines.
Actually, he used his time in the military as the topic for some of his writing: while he was a lieutenant
in the Merchant Marine during World War II, he wrote about how people were affected by the nuclear
bomb testing (Miller 1). He was also involved in the Korean War and wrote a book based on that.
Although he passed away just a couple years ago, his accomplishments in writing and his bravery in war
will always be respected.
Smith 2
His greatest legacy are books that told the world that there were wrongs that needed righting and
issues that needed our attention. He watched as the atomic bomb testing uprooted many people. He
thought those people deserved sympathy and that the world needed to understand how the bomb testing
was affecting others. When readers took hold of The Bomb, the impact of the bombing became more
lucid to them and they took action to support those who needed it. The Cay’s topic is even more global
and even though it was written in 1969, its themes are timeless. The novel is still relevant today because
it teaches tolerance; in The Cay Philip has to overcome his mother’s disdain for blacks. As Phillip grows
to appreciate and admire Phillip, he comes to his own view on Timothy and blacks: there is no reason to
see anyone differently because of what color his/her skin is. Taylor himself said that he dedicated the
novel to the "dream" of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., "which can only come true if the very young know and
understand" (qtd. in Bernstein 1). Through Taylor’s novel, Martin Luther King, Jr.’s message of equality lives on.
Theodore Taylor novels remind their readers to look outside themselves, appreciate what they have, and take
notice and action when there is inequality and imbalance in the world. Readers who truly listen to Theodore
Taylor’s message will actually hear the message all of humanity should live by: people should always treat each
other with dignity and respect.
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Smith 3
Works Cited
Bernstein, Adam. “Theodore Taylor, 85; Author of 'The Cay'.” Washington Post. 30 October 2006.
< http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/29/AR2006102900826.html>.
Miller, Stephen. “Theodore Taylor, 85, Children’s Novelist.” New York Sun. 30 October 2006.
<http://www.nysun.com/obituaries/theodore-taylor-85-childrens-novelist/42476/>.
“Theodore Taylor.” Theodore Taylor. September 2006. 24 October 2006.
<http://www.theodoretaylor.com/bio.htm>.
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Smith 4
The Legacy of a Writer: Theodore Taylor
I.
Background information
A. Qualities of the best writers
1. Makes the readers feel like the time period is now,
2. Reminds readers the important lessons
B. Time period of WWII in which Taylor lived
1. Still prejudice
2. Fear all over the world
C. THESIS: Theodore Taylor’s success as a writer is well-deserved, but that was not his
only career.
II.
His life—two main parts to it
A. His writing career
1. His first role—he worked for a local paper
2. At seventeen, he was a copyboy and made eleven dollars a week
3. Write The Cay in 1969
a. Won eleven awards
b.
In print in 14 foreign countries
c. More than four million copies in publication
B. His military career
a. Lieutenant in the Merchant Marine during World War II
b. Involved in the Korean War
III.
Conclusion: His greatest legacy are books that told the world that there were wrongs that
needed righting and issues that needed our attention