Aristotle and Dante 2

The middle of the book I think helped me really to understand both of the characters better. Aristotle jumps in front of a car coming straight at Dante, pushes him out of the way, possibly saving Dantes life. He gets seriously injured in the process- but even after he wakes up, his first concern is Dante.

I think this shows just how strongly the relationship between Aristotle and Dante is turning out to be. Both boys seem to greatly care about the other, in some ways need the other, but in other ways- I think they do appreciate the other for who they are. They care about each other. They are attempting to figure out each other, and understand their feelings for one another on the whole. I think that it must be really confusing and difficult for both boys. They are still 'developing as people' but now they have to deal with emerging feelings- identifications- that might be unsettling just because of their own, and societies perceptions. This is a theme throughout the whole book I think- finding yourself and at the same time, accepting what you find.

One interesting thing is Aristotles insistence that he is NOT a hero, and his complete distaste when people talk about it or treat it as such. At one point one character, I think Dantes mother, tells Aristotle that he is too hard on himself, and I think that this is very true- and that Aristotle not wanting to recognize his action as heroic really speaks to that. He is, like I said before, trying to acclimate to a bunch of new ideas about himself... and it is hard for him.

In my opinion, I think that Aristotle is having a really difficult time coming to terms with his feelings, his identity- and the middle of this novel helped to make that struggle a bit clearer-emphasized it quite a bit.