Woody went through a lot of injustices early in his life, how do you think his childhood shaped him into the person he became?
Created: 04/20/23
Replies: 11
Join Date: 10/15/10
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Join Date: 04/12/23
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His father's lack of compassion for Woody and animals first gave Woody an excuse for his behavior, but as the story progressed, Woody began to see how his father's treatment of both him and his mother and sister was deeply flawed. However, I do think he was also able to give his father some of his own compassion as a man who had to deal with horrible conditions and the deaths of his wife and child.
Join Date: 03/19/23
Posts: 59
I feel the book is Woody's coming of age narrative. Though I did not agree with all of the choices he makes, I can certainly empathize with the way his childhood influenced his decisions. Growing up dirt (literally!) poor and consumed with basic survival, food and clothes and shelter, would shape the path one takes. It is difficult to be strong and moral and proper when you are starving. From birth and through childhood, our family is our biggest influence and his was definitely not ideal, especially his father.
Join Date: 03/02/23
Posts: 8
For most of the story, you figure Woodys life was bad just by nature of depression circumstances, no real explanation is needed to the reader, we instantly accept hard times = a morally destitute young man. As the story continues, Woody alludes to feelings of guilt as well as a tremendous fear of being punished (for something) by the law. I agree with jjbryant in that he initially had an excuse for his behavior because he had a terrible role model. A cruel and heartless father was all Woody had as they lived through the most desperate of circumstances (in the depression/ dust bowl.)His father’s cruelty most definitely shaped him and when the reader is taken back to his home town and relives his past, I kinda felt happy that after that horror, Woody was still a sensitive enough person to connect with the giraffes and the other characters.
Readers learn that an animal connection was the only happy thing from his childhood and it was brutally taken from him.
Join Date: 10/19/20
Posts: 266
Woody's childhood was very difficult both economically because he grew-up during the Great Depression of the 1930's plus a father lack of compassion and being what would be considered abusive today toward the entire family and Woody had to struggle to see the good in people for the first part of the book. But the Old Man and others made Woody see the good in people and become more comfortable and positive of other people and himself. In sum, as others have said this is a coming of age story and done so with insight and feeling.
Join Date: 04/23/23
Posts: 10
without a caring family situation, and no good role model, Woody began to feel what it was like to care for something, and have someone care for him. It was an amazing turn around to see what he was able to accomplish. Given a chance, it is amazing to see what individuals can accomplish in life.
Join Date: 08/12/16
Posts: 273
Woody had a rough depression life when he was growing up, but even worse was the way his father treated him and spoke to him . He carried so much guilt for what happened with his father, but the understanding of the Old Man helped him forgive himself and also shaped his feelings for the giraffes and animals in general. Having responsibility and trust given to him, changed the whole outcome of his life. The way we are treated by others, certainly shapes the way we perceive the world!
Join Date: 03/29/16
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As I said in another post, I believe Woody's childhood caused him to shut down. Losing a loving parent at a vulnerable age is extremely difficult and then having the remaining parent be a cruel, unloving individual deeply affects a child. That Woody didn't act out with greater violence than he did says a lot about his overall character. I think he was sad for life. Reading about his adulthood made me think he probably suffered from depression during a time when nothing was done for it other than telling the individual suffering to snap out of it. I was very sad for the adult Woody.
Join Date: 02/18/15
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We are all somehow shaped by what we see and learn in our childhood. Woody lived through some of the worst times in American history, the Great Depression and one of the worst Dust Storm on record. Making it worse, his father was beyond cruel. Woody learned not to trust anyone, not even his own emotions or feelings. Woody knew right from wrong and therefore felt great guilt for some of his actions. His saving grace was what he learned from his mother, that there is love and caring, but his mother died in the dust storm, leaving Woody to shut down any good, trusting feeling because it can be so easily taken from you.
Join Date: 03/14/19
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