Skip to main content

How do Max and Freak regard each other in Philbrick's Freak the Mighty?

Max and Freak (Kevin) are best friends. They seem like the two most unlikely boys to become friends, but, actually, it works out well for the both of them. In the beginning, Max, who is also the narrator, says that he "never had a brain until Freak came along" (1). That is to say that Kevin actually teaches Max how to use his brain to read and to write. Kevin believes in Max when other...

Max and Freak (Kevin) are best friends. They seem like the two most unlikely boys to become friends, but, actually, it works out well for the both of them. In the beginning, Max, who is also the narrator, says that he "never had a brain until Freak came along" (1). That is to say that Kevin actually teaches Max how to use his brain to read and to write. Kevin believes in Max when other adults and teachers believed that he should be in the learning-disabled classes. Kevin gives Max the tools to become his own man, gain confidence in himself, and believe that he can learn just like anyone else can. Max, therefore, regards Kevin with great respect, love, and appreciation.


Freak, on the other hand, gets a horse out of the deal. Because Kevin is stricken with the effects of a birth defect, he doesn't grow normally, and he can't walk or even stand like other kids. When Max picks him up and carries him around on his shoulders, Freak has the time of his life! He even accidentally tells Max to raise his hoof at one point, leading the reader to infer that Freak likes to pretend that Max is a horse. Together, they call themselves Freak the Mighty because each one makes up for the other's weaknesses. Furthermore, Max believes Kevin is the smartest boy he knows and Kevin appreciates Max for hauling him around school and on all the quests they go on together.

Popular posts from this blog

In chapter one of The Great Gatsby, what advice does Nick's father give him? How does this make him a good person to tell this story?

Nick says that his father advised him that, before "criticizing anyone," he "remember that all the people in this world haven't had the same advantages" as Nick.  As a result, Nick claims that he is "inclined to reserve all judgments," presenting himself to the reader as a fair and dispassionate arbiter of character, and thus, a reliable narrator.   The problem is that Nick immediately reveals himself as anything but reliable, as he then launches... Nick says that his father advised him that, before "criticizing anyone," he "remember that all the people in this world haven't had the same advantages" as Nick.  As a result, Nick claims that he is "inclined to reserve all judgments," presenting himself to the reader as a fair and dispassionate arbiter of character, and thus, a reliable narrator.   The problem is that Nick immediately reveals himself as anything but reliable, as he then launches into a discussion of how pe...

How did the United States become an imperial power?

"Imperial power" is a bit of a vague label. It tends to mean several things at once, so let's unpack it. In the sense of "this country was built on conquest by force," the "imperial power" part of America actually predates the United States proper. The territories that would become the United States were imperial colonies, established by the great European empires of the 17th and 18th centuries. Much of the US Constitution and American governance generally goes back to England, history's largest and most successful imperial power, but vital aspects of American culture come from other imperial powers, such as France and Spain. Much of American culture comes from sources other than the old empires, but they were key influences on what the United States became. In the sense of "this country treats conquest by force as a fundamental component of its culture, economy and politics," the United States has always been an imperial power. Even earl...

How and why does James Gatz become Jay Gatsby? Describe the young Gatsby/Gatz.

James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune,... James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune, whereas they arose from well-to-do families. Gatz became Gatsby through determination and discipline. At the end of the novel, the narr...