The novel Holes, written by Louis Sachar, is a great example of an analytical essay. The novel tells the story of Stanley Yelnats, a young man who is unjustly sent to a juvenile detention center for a crime he did not commit.
While at the detention center, Stanley discovers that the warden has been using the boys as slave labor to dig holes in the desert. Through his friendship with another inmate, Zero, Stanley slowly begins to unravel the mystery behind the holes and eventually learns the truth about his family’s history.
Sachar does an excellent job of developing the characters in Holes and making them relatable to readers. Stanley is a sympathetic protagonist who is easy to root for, and Zero is a complex character who is more than just a sidekick. The other inmates at the detention center are also well-developed and each have their own distinct personalities.
The novel addresses some heavy topics, such as racism and injustice, but Sachar handles these themes with sensitivity and care. Holes is an engaging and thought-provoking read that will stay with you long after you finish the last page.
Authors aspire to make an impact on their readers and change the way they think about and behave in the world. They do this by ensuring their writing includes themes that are relevant across generations. A theme is a message about life that an author wants the reader to understand. In his novel ‘Holes’, Louis Sachar explores the theme of friendship. He highlights how friends can help us stay mentally and physically strong, weather lonely times and improve our lives overall.
Sachar addresses the idea that friends are essential for our survival by having his protagonist, Stanley Yelnats, experience the positive and negative effects of companionship.
When Stanley is first introduced to the reader, he is depicted as an unlucky loner. Previously convicted for a crime he did not commit, he is sent to Camp Green Lake, a juvenile detention center in Texas, where he is forced to dig holes in the blistering heat all day long. Prior to his arrival at the camp, Stanley had no friends; nobody to rely on or talk to. He was alone in the world.
When Stanley meets Zero, another inmate at the camp, he finally has somebody to connect with. Zero is shy and does not speak much, but Stanley is drawn to him and the two quickly become friends. He teaches Zero how to read and write, and in return, Zero helps Stanley escape from the camp when he is wrongly accused of stealing one of the warden’s precious possessions.
This act of friendship is key to Stanley’s survival; without Zero, he would have been stuck at the camp forever. Sachar uses Stanley and Zero’s relationship to show that friends can help us in ways we never thought possible. They can give us hope when we are lost and they can be our strength when we are weak.
However, Sachar also explores the idea that friends can sometimes let us down. When Stanley is finally reunited with his family, he learns that his father has squandered all of the money he had been saving to buy a boat, on a man who promised to help him win back Stanley’s mother’s affections. Devastated, Stanley runs away from home in search of his friend, Zero. He believes that Zero is the only person who will be able to help him through this tough time.
But when he finally finds Zero, he discovers that his friend has become a thief and a liar. Zero has stolen money from Stanley’s father and he has lied about his past, telling Stanley that he is an orphan when really, he has family who loves him and wants him back. This revelation is crushing for Stanley; he feels betrayed and alone once again. Sachar uses Stanley’s relationship with Zero to show that even our closest friends can sometimes let us down.
In ‘Holes’, the advantages of having trustworthy friends are portrayed well. Even though the book was published over 20 years ago, the theme of companionship is still important in today’s age. To begin with, close friendships can help us stay mentally and physically fit. This concept is illustrated in the story when Stanley and Zero hike up to Big Thumb mountain. The boys are fighting to get away from Camp Green Lake alive, and during this journey they come to trust each other more deeply than before.
“Without thinking, Stanley reached out and grabbed Zero by the arm, to stop him from falling. It was the first time he had ever touched Zero.”
This act of companionship is significant as it foreshadows their escape plan which requires both mental and physical strength. Furthermore, during their time at Camp Green Lake the boys are required to dig holes all day in the hot sun. If they did not have each other for support they would quickly become dehydrated and exhausted.
In contrast, friendships can also provide us with a shoulder to cry on during tough times. This novel demonstrates how true friends will be there for you no matter what. When Stanley is accused of stealing Mr Pendanski’s shoes, Zero is the only one who believes that he is innocent.
“I don’t care if you did or didn’t. I know you”
This novel also shows us that friends will help us when we need it the most, even if it means putting their own lives at risk. When Stanley buries the treasure in the desert, he does so knowing that Zero will never be able to dig it up by himself. However, he does not hesitate to give his friend the coordinates as he knows it will make him happy.
In conclusion, Sachar’s novel ‘Holes’ addresses the theme of friendship in a variety of ways. He shows that friends can be essential for our survival, but he also shows that they can sometimes let us down. However, the novel ultimately leaves us with the message that, despite everything, friendship is still worth fighting for. Stanley Yelnats may have had his share of bad luck, but in the end, it was his friendships that got him through the tough times and helped him find his way back home.
