In The Cay, by Theodore Taylor, Philip the main character is a 11 year old boy who gets stuck on a island with a old negro. He faces many challenges and emotions but, Phillip reveals that through many conflicts, he developed bravery, gratefulness, and independence.
Philip shows frightened behavior after the ship he is on is torpedoed by the Germans. He is separated from his mother and thrown aboard a small raft. When he wakes up he is in the middle of the ocean with a old negro. ‘’That lonely sea, and the sharp pains in my head, and the knowledge that I was here alone with a black man instead of my mother made me break into tears’’ (Taylor pg, 32). Phillip is disoriented and scared after 2 days on the raft. Phillip demonstrates bravery after he goes blind and must rely on timothy for his eyes. Once Phillip and Timothy arrive on the island they see a huge palm tree but philip is to frightened to climb it because he can not see, but he showed bravery when he jumped on the tree and did not stop climbing till he reached the top. Phillips bravery only increased from there and he was not frightened anymore. …show more content…
Phillip states ‘’Then I cried for a long time, holding Stew Cat tight’’. Aside from him, I was blind and alone on a forgotten cay’’ (taylor, pg 112). Philip was sad and angry for Timothy leaving him and stew cat there all alone. But as the days continued, Phillip demonstrates determination when he decides to clean the island and survive. Phillips lastly showed independence because he thrived from the things timothy had taught him. And his independent behavior showed when he ventured out on the reef to find food. He did just as timothy had done and was determined to leave with food. Also when he heard a plane and a ship he ran to light the fire and after the last mistake he knew that he needed to use sea grape. And because he knew what to do he was rescued and brought back