Life can be viewed as a battle field, a constant fight between good and evil. In Leif Enger’s Peace Like a River, this scenario was well depicted. In the novel, there was a constant fight taking place between the good and evil characters, and though based around family, love, and brotherhood, the novel mainly focused on the conflict between these characters. This student felt that it was fair to classify the Lands along with Roxanna Cowley, The Shultzs and Dr.
Nokes as the good characters. This was a fair classification as these characters maintained their positive personas throughout the novel. On the other hand, Superintendent Holgren, Israel Finch, Tommy Busca, and Jape Waltzer can be classified as the bad characters. The main conflict that took place throughout the novel was between Israel Finch and Tommy Busca with Davy Land. In the beginning of the novel there was a lot of conflict taking place between Davy and the two juveniles as they were always out raising problems. Davy showed disgust towards the boys after they attempted to hurt his girlfriend.
His father, having stepped in, prevented any further altercations between Israel, Tommy and Davy’s girlfriend. The event that possibly hit home the most for Davy was when Israel and Tommy kidnapped Swede from their home. Davy remained quiet about the situation until he could no longer take it. “The world is a dangerous place to live, not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don’t do anything about it” (Albert Einstein).
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The conflict that continues to be a problem today between the Arabs and the Israelis was begun many years ago. Although many steps have been taken to try to resolve this fighting, the two groups still hate each other. The problem is that the hatred between these two is so deep that it seems as if an agreement can t be met. However, there is a good chance that after the Israeli elections in May ...
This student felt that this quote was possibly how Davy felt, when the law decided not to handle the situation but instead decided to make excuses for Tommy and Israel’s actions. The student felt that Davy was simply tired of sitting back and that it was time for him to take matters into his own hands.
Davy retaliated in the most shocking manner possible, killing both Israel and Tommy. This student felt as though Davy’s actions were good because his intentions were to take care of his family. On the other hand, if he had simply been a cold blooded killer as readers later found Jape Waltzer to be, Davy’s action may have been seen in a different light. Davy felt that once he destroyed evil, everything would be settled and that his family could go on like normal, but Davy had turned into a wanted individual; his family was left to battle even more evil. Jeremiah had been working at Ruben and Swedes school as a janitor.
After the two murders Superintendent Holgren began to treat Jeremiah differently, as he allowed his opinion to determine whether or not Jeremiah deserved the job. Holgren made work even more difficult and disagreed with everything that Jeremiah did. Jeremiah, being the calm person that he was, never retaliated with negative words. He allowed Holgren to mistreat him, even in front of the staff and students in the school.
Holgren finally resorted to firing Jeremiah in front of everyone, but Jeremiah simply touched his face and walked away. “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing” (Buddha).
Jeremiah did nothing but simply left things in God’s hands. He allowed Holgren to make a fool out of himself and surprisingly, he healed Holgren’s face from those unsightly sores. Once again good triumphed over evil.
This student felt that Jeremiah maintained his composure and acted just as he should. The best way to deal with situations is to walk away and Jeremiah proved to have such discipline. The Lands faced a lot of negativity from persons who were once considered family friends. It must have been difficult for the Lands as they were viewed negatively because of Davy’s actions. Although many persons betrayed them, the Lands could still count on a few old friends. The Shultzs and Dr.
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Nokes continued to support them even if they did not agree with Davy’s actions. Throughout the novel these characters went out of their way to support their friends in their battle against evil, often putting themselves in danger for supporting them. August and his wife Birdie allowed Davy, a fugitive, to stay in their home risking their being arrested for aiding a criminal: Davy was not riding a horse any longer, he was driving a Studebaker, its floorboards rotted to mere embroidery. August for years had kept the old boat for a field car.”Seeing Davy’s unwillingness to return home with his hands in the air, August decided the Studebaker had been more than faithful to him and needed a change of mission and oil.”Before Davy had finished breakfast, August had affixed old license plates and obscured them with dirt and snow, filled the car up with gas from his scaffold ed bulk tank, and placed bread and cheese and a sack of canned goods in the trunk. (Enger 151) This showed that the Shultzs were actually good friends, never once encouraging the Lands to resort negatively towards the other persons who treated them badly. This student felt as though it was this positive support from their friends that kept the Lands going.
Along with the support from the Shultzs, the Lands were also treated hospitably by Roxanna Cowley. Not having known them that well, Roxanna allowed the Lands to stay in her home as long as they needed to. Roxanna became a mother to Swede and Reuben and eventually a lover and wife to Jeremiah Land. Roxanna remained loyal to her new found friends even after she found out about their fugitive son and brother. So, whenever the Lands felt as if everyone was against them, they would somehow find someone who proved to be a good and loyal friend. After Davy left the Shultzs he ended up staying with a man by the name of Jape Waltzer.
Although Waltzer and Davy got along, Reuben could pick up on several things that he did not like about Jape. Jape was also a wanted man so he could relate to what Davy was going through. This reader felt as though Davy considered Jape a friend but still had his doubts, as he would later find out the real person that Jape was. Jape had been growing up Sara to be his wife. Sara shared how Jape tortured her, making her watch as he amputated his two left fingers. These were little signs indicating that Jape was not really as good a person as he tried to make himself appear to be.
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Thu Tran English 108 A Essay # 1 A Good Friend Most people have a lot of friendships through their life. However, it is true to think that a friend relationship is more important than a family relationship sometimes. There is a proverb that says, "A friend in need is a friend indeed." I have a lot of friends since I came to the United States, but I believe that Nancy is not only my aunt but also ...
As time went by and as the county policeman were closing in on Davy, he and Sara decided to leave the cabin while Jape was asleep. Davy and Sara ended up at the farmhouse that his family had just purposed in exchange for their Air stream trailer. The following day, as Davy prepared to leave, Jape Waltzer, waiting in the front yard, opened fire on Jeremiah and Reuben. That horrific day, Jeremiah Land died and surprisingly Reuben survived the shooting. This reader felt as though Jeremiah must have prayed to God to spare Reuben’s life in exchange for his own, as it is said that Reuben and not Jeremiah should have died that day. The story ended sadly, with the death of Jeremiah.
So did good triumph over evil that day? This student felt that good triumphed over evil and won the battle because although the battle resulted in a few casualties, Jeremiah Land still won the ultimate prize, a place in heaven. As for his children, they went on to be good individuals. Davy, although still running from the law, had turned into a stronger individual. As for the family friends that were always there for Jeremiah and his children, they were still around even after Jeremiah’s death. This reader felt that this proved once again that good could surpass all evil. Peace Like a River was a novel that encouraged persons to resort positively to all the negativity along the way.
This novel was filled with historical and literary allusions, but the most important of all were the biblical allusions, that show that no matter how great the struggle was God would help them along the way, because of miracles. It was these miracles and most importantly God that helped the Lands survive so many set backs.
