Expressions

Alyssa Czerwinski

2/21/12

Mrs.Reagles 2^nd hour

Expressions

Authors Note: Essay used to explain how the people in Jenna’s life in the book Rules of the Road help her express her emotions.

It is crazy how many people are in our life. Sometimes these people are important and some are less significant. In the book Rules of the Road By Joan Bauer Different characters symbolize different emotions for Jenna which is a key detail for this story.

First of all Harry Bender is a person who Jenna meets around half way through the book. He is someone she wished her dad was like. Harry gives Jenna hope. He does it in a way that he doesn’t even realize. Since Harry told her his story about him quitting drinking which is what Jenna wanted from her dad her whole life.

Another character that can help Jenna express her feelings is Madeline Gladstone. When I read this book I could tell whenever Jenna was with Mrs.Gladstone she felt strong. She felt this way because even though all the struggles Madeline has, she looks through the rain to see the sunlight. When Jenna is around someone who can overcome  a horrid son who doesn’t  care about her and a hip that causes her not to be able to walk  Jenna can realize that she can get though the difficulties of her dad.

The symbol of Jenna’s anger is revolved around her dad.  Her dad is introduced at the beginning of this story and I could tell that he was not going to be a positive character. He walked into the shoe store she worked at drunk! That was the first time she has seen him in 2 years and 7 months, but that was common for her father Jenna explained on page 8.

People can walk in and out for your life in the matter of seconds.  Some will stay and some will go, you never know. But I know Mrs.Gladstone Harry Bender, and Jenna’s father are the ones that will stay forever to help Jenna express her feelings.