Pluem 1108

Traviss Turning Point

In present day, there are many teenagers whose bad backgrounds truly

negatively affect their dreams. In the book, The Serpent King, written by Jeff Zentner,

there is one main character who is always supported by his two close same-age

friends named Lydia and Dill. Dill, who has a fascinating talent in music, makes an

attempt to go to college to resolve his familys conflicts. Traviss life has to confront

to many problems such as the internal conflicts of his family or being exiled from the

house and selling the firewood to earn more on his saving. He not only lost his

beloved brother named Matt, but also never got supported from his father. Traviss

father prefers him to be a football player during the high school and suggests him to

be a military in his future career; however his fathers propositions contradict to his

dreams.Travis is motivated by attempting to be a successful writer, opposing his

fathers violence, and having a new place to live with Dill for getting away from his

difficult life.

Traviss inspiration to be a successful writer comes from the famous writer

named G.M. Pennington or Gary Mark Kozlowski. Gary is a person who is the writer

of the book named BloodFall series. Travis has read this series for many times and

thought that reading a fictional book would help him to get out from trepidation or

loneliness. One day, Travis has a great surprising opportunity to meet his idol at

airport since his two close friends have created an excellent scheme. Gary motivates

him to be more enthusiastic to be the writer by saying, Then of course you cant!

Writing is something you can learn only by doing. To become a writer, you need an

imagination, which you clearly have. You need to read books, which you clearly do.

And you need to write, which you dont yet do, you (Zentner, 2016, p.221). Gary
makes him to have more confident about being the writer but in the meantime, his

dream was teared down again by his unreasonable father.

Travis is not getting supported and promoted from his his father, not including

his mother. His father is sitting on the couch with anger. In fact, Travis responses for

delivering things to houses and some delivery is too expensive for his family

business. His father realizes why Travis has gone on that day once he sees a book

with the signature. He beats Travis up violently by hitting and lashing him with a belt.

In spite of the interference of Traviss mother, she is hard pushed away. Eventually,

Travis could not bear to see him and his mom getting suffered. Travis has said with

in hot temper, You lay a hand on me again, Ill break off your arm. You lay a hand

on my mom again I will fucking kill you (Zentner, 2016, p.228). Travis stands up

against his father, no longer being forced to do what he is not willing to. He is

intolerant to see his mother get injured and determines to follow his dream without

any obstruction from his father. He no longer wants to be a son of his father who

does act like the father; therefore he has a plan to create his own future without him.

Dills house is the last option for Travis after having the big conflict with his

atrocious father. He asks for pills and sneaks out during the night time to his pickup

and directly go to Bertram Park. While they are at the park, watching trains passing

them, Travis has brought up a great opinion, arranging his own future. He tells Dill

we should get a house together and be roommates. Even if you cant pay much

rent. Thats all right. Ill pay most of it and you can play me songs to pay for the rest

of your part of it (Zentner, 2016, p.232). Travis has said these statements to point

out that he would reconstruct his life and brighter future with independence by living
in a place with companions whom he loves and abandon his small-minded and drunk

father. He has determination to chase his dream along his own pathway without any

obstruct.

Although Traviss life stands up to many struggles, there are motivations that

motivate him. Travis has shown his great effort to pursue his aim by collecting

money from selling firewoods to get a laptop for writing. Since he could not bear to

his unsupported and unreasonable father, he opposes him by departing from the

house. Being offered help by Dill, he has created his own route to his reconstructive

future afterward. The courage of Travis is a great example for those who are now

hesitative between what others like and what they personally like.