Skip to main content

How is the injustice that Garrett faces in Boot Camp by Todd Strasser similar to the injustice faced by Aibileen and Minny in The Help by Kathryn...

In Boot Campby Todd Strasser, the main character, Garrett, is treated with paternalism that is cruel in its intent. As he is being taken to a militaristic boot camp called Lake Harmony in upstate New York, the man transporting him tells him, "Your parents sent you to Lake Harmony because they love you" (page 2). His captors, or "transporters," tell him that they are bringing him to the boot camp for his own good,...

In Boot Camp by Todd Strasser, the main character, Garrett, is treated with paternalism that is cruel in its intent. As he is being taken to a militaristic boot camp called Lake Harmony in upstate New York, the man transporting him tells him, "Your parents sent you to Lake Harmony because they love you" (page 2). His captors, or "transporters," tell him that they are bringing him to the boot camp for his own good, but his detention in the boot camp is a form of cruelty and imprisonment.


In a similar way, Aibileen and Minny, black maids in The Help, are robbed of their own free will and controlled by whites who state that they have Aibileen's and Minny's best interests in mind. As Aibileen says, "Sides stealing, worse thing you'n do for your career as a maid is to have a smart mouth" (page 17). Like Garrett, whose parents dislike his choosing his own relationships and charting his own course, Aibileen and Minny are supposed to do what their employers want and are supposed to keep their true thoughts to themselves. The white women who employ Aibileen and Minny decide on a Home Help Sanitation Initiative, which involves building outhouses for their black domestic help to use, because, as they state, "99% of all colored diseases are carried in the urine" (page 158). This is another form of paternalism. The white employers are treating their maids with disrespect but tell them it is for everyone's best interest. In this way, the white employers are similar to Garrett's parents in Boot Camp. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What is the meaning of "juggling fiends" in Macbeth?

Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a... Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a sense of guilt, and that man tells him: Despair thy charm. And let the angel whom thou still hast serve...
Post a Comment
Read more

In Martel's Life of Pi, how does writing a diary help Pi Patel build on his leadership skills?

At the end of chapter 73, Pi first divulges the fact that he had started a diary after about a week alone at sea. Pi claims that he wrote about "practical stuff" (208) such as what he caught for food, foreseeable problems and solutions, Richard Parker, and reflections about specific events that occurred. In a sense, Pi is the captain of his ship; therefore, he must take responsibility for himself and his crew. He can... At the end of chapter 73, Pi first divulges the fact that he had started a diary after about a week alone at sea. Pi claims that he wrote about "practical stuff" (208) such as what he caught for food, foreseeable problems and solutions, Richard Parker, and reflections about specific events that occurred. In a sense, Pi is the captain of his ship; therefore, he must take responsibility for himself and his crew. He can do this by writing down events, problems and solutions, and reflections to look back on when confronted with repeated problems. It can ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Why did Tybalt attack and kill Mercutio instead of Romeo, who he had originally been targeting?

Though Tybalt's quarrel is with Romeo, he begins the momentous duel in Act 3 by fighting with and killing Mercutio instead. Tybalt ultimately attacks Mercutio because the garrulous and hot-headed character insults Tybalt and goads him into a duel to protect Romeo's honor. From the beginning of the encounter in Act 3, Scene 1, it's clear that Mercutio is itching for a fight. For instance, when Tybalt signals that he wants to talk to Mercutio... Though Tybalt's quarrel is with Romeo, he begins the momentous duel in Act 3 by fighting with and killing Mercutio instead. Tybalt ultimately attacks Mercutio because the garrulous and hot-headed character insults Tybalt and goads him into a duel to protect Romeo's honor. From the beginning of the encounter in Act 3, Scene 1, it's clear that Mercutio is itching for a fight. For instance, when Tybalt signals that he wants to talk to Mercutio and Benvolio, Mercutio responds "And but one word with one of us?/ Couple it w...
Post a Comment
Read more