Post 7 ; Hero Study

A Splinter In The Heart

By Al Purdy

Lately, I've been reading the book "A splinter in the Heart". It is based on a time in 1918, about a boy named Patrick who isn't as great as his neighbour Kevin. Kevin is great at running, so Patrick decides to run as well. Training himself. I belive Patrick is the hero in this book, though he has not done anything great in the book yet. I believe Patrick has the qualities of confidince, determination to continue his running and kind-hearted. I belive that these are heroic in nature, if Patrick is determined enough and confident to save some one he cares about, then he'll follow through. Since he is kind-hearted, he couldn't stand to watch them suffer.

I believe that it isn't super powers, the skin tight outfit, or the bravery that makes you a hero. But your determination. Heros are determined to save anyone from anything because they like the job they have. If they didn't like their job on saving people im sure they wouldn't be doing it. A hero would be a firefighter, they actually sacrafice their lives to fires or gases to save others. From this, I see that other qualities of a hero is 'self-sacrafice' and 'family-oriented'. From what I have read in the book, Patrick is not self-sacraficial, but he is family oriented. Taking in, how he lives with her mother and they get along well.

Family Oriented : (After Patrick and his mother are having breakfast, his mother is telling him to eat more. She dosen't want him fainting from running to much.)

She said, "I want you to take two teaspoons of sulphur and molasses every morning. My mother used to give it to me on the farm. And greens, you should be getting more greens.".

He glanced up from his cereal, smiling. "Just look at me. Don't I look healthy?".

( They continue their talk about the world and about his health )

= Al Purdy, A splinter in the heart, The Canadian Publishers,1990, 99

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Determination : (Patrick meets up with Uncle Wilfred while he is jogging)

"What ye up to, boy?"

"It's my long-run day, Uncle Wilfred" Patrick said. "Im going along the tiver toward Frankford".

"Don't see any use for it," the old man said chidingly. "If the good Lord wanted people to run everywhere they went, he'da given them wheels instead of feet."

"Maybe he did both."

"Harr-rr - what ye mean?"

"Well, those ford cars have got wheels. So do carts and buggies from farms. The lord gave people wheels when he saw that feet weren't going to be enough. Isn't that right?"

(Patrick keeps up to his activity. Even if other of the villagers think it is odd. Most people would ask Patrick why he was running. He dosen't let others discourage him).

= Al Purdy, A splinter in the heart, The Canadian Publishers,1990, 59