Animal Dreams

A detailed Summary of Animal Dreams

People "dream about whatever they do when they're awake. Dreams, what [one] hopes for, [are] not separate from [one's] life" (133; ch.12). In Barbara Kingsolver's novel, Animal Dreams, each character's hopes, aspirations, and hardships are intricately woven throughout their lives and intertwined in their dreams. In the case of Codi Noline, the novel's central character, foresight played both the role of the adversary and the desired. With the help of those surrounding her, such as her ailing father, Dr. Homero Noline, her adventurous sister, Hallie, a colorful local, Dona Althea, and her naturalist, hog-head boyfriend, Loyd, Codi finds closure and a place in her heart for the love that has forever been bestowed upon her. Each of these characters' dreams reflects their innate and cultural instincts. For some, lack of faith and fear of rejection blockaded the gates to happiness, while other characters in the novel displayed courageous and directed efforts in order for their dreams to become realized.

In search of a place in the sun, a place to belong, Codi Noline set out on a journey to return to her hometown of Grace where during her childhood she had felt like an outcast. Lacking both sleep and dreams, she attempted to s

Dr. Homer Noline's dreams were realized to a minimal degree, but what he didn't realize was that his efforts only exacerbated the chance that they wouldn't come true. Homero's position as doctor aided him in the realization of his dream to be situated above the people of Grace who had once looked down upon him. Evident by the loads of Tupperware in his refrigerator, Doc became a very well respected and prominent member of the community even though he still fostered pains of exclusion and ridicule while on his deathbed. His efforts to abandon his heritage not only cost him his last name, but it also caused his daughter, Codi, to experience the same estrangement in school as he had years prior. His obsession with orthopedic shoes doesn't represent his infatuation with un-fallen arches, but reflects the intent for his girls to develop flawlessly. Unfortunately, as a result of his medically focused parental techniques, his relationship with his daughters lacked the emotional and familial support they needed. In his hallucinations towards the end of the novel, Doc Homer realizes that love is weightless. He once feared "how much [his daughter's] had to lose" instead of realizing how much of himself he was capable of giving to them (4; ch.1).

Once a heavy drinker with devil eyes and a misspelled name, Loyd Peregrina unfolded gradually throughout the novel into a brilliant, influential, and mutable character. With his Native American legends, the Apache introduced his philosophical insight concerning nature and its relationship with life. Impacted by his twin brother's premature and tragic death, Loyd was determined to appreciate all that the heavens had to offer: his family, friends, history, nature, and various tribes. When asked if there was anything he would die for, he responded, "the land" (122; ch.12). Loyd's multi-tribal roots enhanced his compassionate persona and no matter his location, he was always able to make the best of a situation, soaking up life for all it's worth. From their first encounter at Emelina's barbeque, Loyd's desire to win Codi's heart resulted in continual lectures, counseling, and heart-to-heart conversations. His underlying hopes for a family of his own caused him to court Codi and persuade her to stay in Grace.

Her dream to preserve the prestige and fertility of Grace was realized with the collection of sufficient funds to start a counterattack against the destructive company. Even though Dona lacked environmental knowledge and the ability to understand the English language, the strength of her aspirations brought forth widespread awareness and assistance. Her passion for heritage remained evident when she spoke to the news reporter concerning the history of the Gracela Sisters with Biblical similitude. With the withdrawal of the Black Mining Corporation from the area and the deconstruction of a ruinous dam, Dona Althea was able to continue residing within the community of her ancestors and conserve it for generations to come.

Loyd thoroughly satisfied his desires to keep his life and responsibilities in perspective by respecting and understanding the intricacies of t

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 2124
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Novels