What is the importance of family members in one's life? How does lack of love impact a person's ability to establish healthy relationships with others around him? Give examples to explain your reasoning.
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PART I:I think the importance of having friends and family members around a person are that one has a sense of belonging. It also helps because one has someone to depend on and someone who depends on them. Lack of love in one’s life can lead them to have low self-esteem, anger issues, and a bad type of independence. Lack of love can also create hardships while trying to make friends or trusting different people e.g. Georgie has a hard time making friends and/or trusting adults.
Well, yes Hassan please elaborate on how Georgie is having hard time establishing relationships. Please discuss why such people hold grudges and are less willing to forgive.
In my opinion, I think family members are very important in a person's life. One's family determines how one grew up, and how one is right now. Parents teach one how one should act(and this little detail is very important). For example: Georgie says things that shouldn't be said, and acts very rudely (even to his elders, and we are taught specifically not to disrespect our elders), this is only because he wasn't taught not to, in fact, his mother said these things in front of him, as though he was aloud to say them(showing him that she didn't really care about him).
This lack of love in his life, specifically from his mother(and her boyfriend), made him think most adults were like that, thus testing his trust with other people. Even at school, his pupils made fun of him, and his teacher didn't stop them(it mentions in the book she stopped them from making fun of a different student}. When he came across the other kids making fun of him, he didn't really care because he was so used to it.
Later on in the book, Robin's grandfather reads them a story about a boy who gets abused and sings to him self, and because Georgie could relate so much to the boy in the story, he wanted to read that book, and he started to learn how to read. Even after he learned it was Robin's mother's book, he still wanted to read it, and kept on insisting to keep it for a while(just like the flower book). Thus, Family members are very important a one's life due to emotional and physical behavior, and just the thought of someone is there for you, and will always be there for you as long as they live.
Yes, Haneen, did you notice Georgie views himself as "dumb, mean, and stupid". I agree with you; the environment one grows up in is extremely important in formulating one's personality as well as ideas about love, friendship and trust toward others. By the way, wonderful discussion and this is how 'allowed' is spelled. JAK!
The importance of family members in ones life is that we each haveeacher holding onto our backs. Each one of us holds on to each others back, but the one who doesn't think have a tight relashionship with there family is like them at the end of the line. What i mean by being at the end of the line is, we each hold on to ones back, but if your at the end of the line, who's holding on to your back? Lack of love with each other may effects one's relations with the world. Just like Georgie, he learned that he receives fake love, and to lie to his sorroundings!This will effect one by not trustiong anybody. Once that person finds out that one is lying to them, or thinking that they're a fake friend... then comes lonliness in ones heart because we ma think about ourselves! An example from the book is when Georgie starts to lose faith in Sr. Mary Angela, but this piece of Georigies heart came from Steve, and his drunken mom!
The importance of family members is part of the hierarchy of needs. The middle level is friendship and family. It is such a big importance that it is on the hierarchy of needs. In addition, your family members are like the love in your life. A family can make your reputation better or worse. It is the name you have the rest of your life.
The lack of love is preventing Georgie from establishing a relationship with Ms. Molly Harper. However, he has no problem making a relationship with Sister Mary Angela because he never has had a "nun" in his life. However, it is different with Ms. Harper because she is like Mrs. to Georgie because I guess she is a "Mom"
Now that Georgie has opened up to Robins Grandfather, he realizes that he is not actually not dumb. However, he never showed interest in reading. It could be because of his teacher or Georgie not showing interest in school subjects.
PART II: It is obvious that Georgie has a hard time making relationships because he has never had a true retionship. He has also established many negative habits. One of the many he has adopted are holding grudges and anger issues. He easily gets angry at people and holds grudges for the people who wronged him.
Part III: I also believe in what Haneen said about "Family members are very important a one's life due to emotional and physical behavior, and just the thought of someone is there for you, and will always be there for you as long as they live." because if one is lonely they never have anyone to talk to. Here is an example when a family member moves and lives alone without support it brings down their happiness and sense-of-belonging factor. I also agree with the fact that Georgie gets on people’s nerves’ and really gets annoying. “SOMETIMES YOU MIGHT EVEN THINK “DOES HE WANT HELP, LOVE, CARE OR NOT???SHOULDN’T HE APPERICIATE WHAT HE’S GETTING???”. But anyway he is kind of good on the inside but he hasn’t found that part of his personality yet. We all should thank Allah (SWT) for the families and friends we have around us. ALHAMDULILLAH!!!
I think that the importance of having family and freinds is like your protection and also someone you can trust.Having a family is better than being all alone like Gorgie.Gorgie never got the love and care from his "parents" and that is an example of not having a family. Having friends is like having someone you really trust like sister mary angela Gorgie trusts her as a friend becasue he knows that she never lies. Having friends could also give you a sense of belonging becasue then you'll know that there will be someone that trusts you and someone you can trust.If you don't have family or friends than your life is just blank and there is no use of living.
The lack of love is not healthy for you or the people around you. lack of love will be harder for you to trust people like gorgie becasue at first when he came to the boarding house he didn't trust anyone there becasue he didn't know how becasue he wasn't taight to trust anyone. it does make it harder for others to know you and you to know others. if a child has gone through hard ships than you will not love or trust anyone.it will take time to build a relationship whith someone you don't know just like gorgie it took time for him to know timothy and others.
In my opinion, having family members is very important in one’s life because family members are the people one spends most of the time with. Also, if one has a mom and a dad, there is balance in the family. Adding on to that, family members give love to each other. Another important thing about family members is that they care for each other and they sacrifice things for each other. If a person doesn’t have family members, that person strives and tries to look for their true identity. Lack of love has a big impact on a person’s ability to establish healthy relationships with others around him because that person would think that the whole world is bad and evil. Take Georgie as an example. His mom is always getting herself drunk and he doesn’t even know who his father is. And if you think that’s not enough well listen to this! He is abused by his mom and Steve and he is absolutely horrified whenever he thinks of Steve. Now, Georgie has a hard time believing people and he lies. He is rude to people sometimes, so people don’t want to be around him. Luckily, as the story progresses and he goes to a school that is far away from his mom and Steve, his personality improves.
The importance of having family friends, and love has a very strong value in life. Incase you are ever feeling down or sad you have friends and to back you up. Georgie thinks that only friend and family is his rose bush. The rose bush can hurt his feeling because a rose bush can't talk or yell at Georgie.Georgies lack of love effects him badly, he has problems making relationships, lying, and holding grudges.
All these issues and the reason for it is because of his past and the people in it. The reason of his lying is because of Steve, he told Georgie if he ever told on Steve about his beatings he said that he will kill Georgie. He has probelms of trusting adults because of his mother. She always said that she loves Georgie but those are all lies and she only says that only when she is drunk. But as the book goes on he starts to lose those habits and receive love. That’s why friends and family are very important.
I think the importance of having family members in a persons life is so that they can develope love and protection. The lack of love impacts a persons ability to establish a healthy relashionship with one another because they will distrust anyone, they will keep getting angry. it will also be hard to create friends. The reason is because they will think that somebody is tring to hurt them. An example is Georgie because he is havi a hard time trustig people because of his lack of love.
The importance of having freinds and family members is that they can make you feel comfortable and can protect. Also that they will defend you if someone if someone is or ever bothering you. Also so you are not lonely and you have someone to talk to. Also they can be related because you are used to talking and communicating with them. And they will have a good relationship with you because you like to hang out with them and play with them. But Georgie does have family members but they don't treat him tthe way he is suppose to be treated. And he wants them to be nice to him but they just won't listen. So when you have family members be nice to them so that they will be happy when they are around you.
The importance of family members in one’s life is the sense of belonging. For example t-t T.J his family didn’t give the felling of sense belonging so he went with the white boys so he can fell belonged in life. Also another importance of family is that they fulfill the family needs. Their extremely alike to the hyraces of needs. Lack of love impact a person's ability to establish healthy relationships with others around him because the reason they can’t love is their afraid. When they are afraid they can’t trust an one and then that means they can’t have a healthy relationship with others around him t-t is that Georgie is like the little girl in the poem Sara she still loves her mom and dad and so dose Georgie because he knows his mom is the one in life who is suppose to give him the sense of belonging. The reason I think so is because in the being of the story he tells his mom that you shouldn’t let Steve in the house. He is telling her that because he still believes him.
Family and friends are what makes up a child. What ever kind of person the child hangs around with will make up who the child is. If they hang around with good kids the good rubs off on them. But if they hang around with bad kids the bad will rub onto them. Familys are the first step of showing communication. If the child couldn't function properly in his family then he won't be able to function in anything. People never want to be around the *odd* one of the group. If the child has no idea how to function he will become the odd one. In Surviving The Applewhites no one wanted to be around Jake because he was the odd one. People in this world think normal is best and if you can't maintane a good realationship with your family then people will not be around you. This causes the child to develope negative additude traits, which are very hard to get rid of.
I think the importance of having family members in ones life is for the child to know what things are wrong to say and to do and what are right. If the enviorment you live in and its not that great then your personality could be just like that. Not only where you live but who you live with and how you live. Example- Georgie was in place where there was hate and pain all over him. You could literaly see how this enviorment destryoed him. Steve was all over his life that it was crumbled and taken over and he couldnt stop him becuase he was "dumb".
The lack of love impacts a persons ability to establish healthy realtionships with others around him by if your parents or friends never showed that love is important or evershowed it it will be hard for you two give it when your are older. Georgie had never had such a deep love from his parents and not even his teacher!A teacher should be like a loving parent. He barley got a hug from his mom the only hug Steve would give would be with a dagger.
In the future Georgie might have been a dull parent with a bad history. If he had truned like his mom he would probably be also abusive beacuse of the lack of love. He would say that my mom didnt give this love to me so you deserve this. The importance of love and family who care is so important because of the fact that it may go on forever, child to child, year to year, and day by day.
Yes, Saif. I agree with you about Jake Semple, but how about Georgie. Jake Semple grew up in a house of loving but criminal parents who corrupted Jake's ideas of right from wrong. What are the differences between Jake's and Georgie's parents and how these fifferences impact both the characters' personalities.
I think the importance of having a family is that you actually have someone to support you and someone to confind your thoughts to. All of us know that when we are feeling down, we want to talk to someone or we would explode from allt he pressure. Well,it is the same with Georgie.No one to talk to, no one to confind secrets with, it is a pretty lonely and horrible place to live in. That is why Gergie takes advsntage of the people who do care, like the librarian, Mrs.Simms, and especially the rosebush. The problem is, he is having a hard time Trusting people who, as he knows in his heart, actuallly want to help him. In his other life, he learned that "The brain is always the master of your controls because the heart will lead you to a place of hurt." Well, in this new area, he is slowly adapting to the rule of how the heart leads you to a land of love and peace, but to some occasions, like Mrs.Harper, his brain is still in control.
The importance of family members in one’s life is to make one actualized and fulfill one’s needs. However, before one becomes actualized, one must fulfill all the levels of the hierarchy of needs. Thus, when children are abused, they are not actualized. Take Georgie as an example. He didn’t have his physiological needs because his mother (Mrs. Burgess) would be too lazy to make him food. Sometimes, she would team up with Steve and they would tie Georgie up in the closet. Georgie would go hungry for days. That is called physical neglect. Georgie doesn’t have a sense of belonging because he feels as though he has been abandoned and nobody cares about him. Most people in his environment make fun of him, beat him up, etc. Georgie isn’t really protected. In fact, he is being hurt physically AND emotionally. He has low self esteem about himself because he doesn’t get any praises, rewards, etc. But, he takes everything in and doesn’t let it out. What I mean by this is that Steve hurts Georgie SO MUCH and Georgie doesn’t even tell anybody. And finally, he is not actualized because in order to be actualized, one must establish all the levels of the hierarchy. But, when he goes to live with Sister Mary Angela, his life opens up for him and he gradually realizes that hope is on its way. Lack of love impacts one’s ability to establish healthy relationships with others around him because one might grow up in an environment where people don’t keep their promises. For example, Georgie knows that his mother is a liar. One day, when she was drunk, his mother told him that Steve will never come into the apartment ever again. Georgie knows she’s lying because she has deceived him many times. When Georgie was at his new home, Sister Mary Angela told Georgie that the rosebush was healthy in Mrs. Harper’s garden and Georgie told her that she was a liar. Once one loses a person’s trust, it is difficult to get it back. Trust isn’t something where one can treat it like garbage. It is very valuable. Also, Georgie grew up in an environment that was evil. So, he thinks that everyone is like his mother and Steve because Georgie didn’t see the outside world. It’s kind of like if you are in a dark room for years and years and someone finds you and opens the door. You aren’t going to be used to the light because you were in the dark your whole life. It is the same thing with Georgie. He was in an evil kind of environment, so he thought everyone was evil, too.
In my opinion the family members are a BIG need as well as a want and they are VERY important. If one has a positive relationship with all their family they will have somebody to support them when they need support, comfort them when they need comfort and stick up for you no matter what happens. One can have someone to encourage them. One may also hold treasured memories and may enjoy fun times when one laughs while one also feels sorrow at sad times when one cries.
However if one lacks a good relationship and love, one is on ones own and must stand up on ones own two legs and if you fall pick your self up because there is no helping hand. One looses trust and hope and gives up because there is nobody to push one forward. One is then all alone in a dark, lonely, empty, closed up world just like Georgie when he lived with his mother and boyfriend in Tampa and got abused.
Similarly when one doesn’t have a good family from the beginning one will not establish good relationships with others. One must then learn to leave the past behind and start a new joyful, pleasant life. One must learn to open up and walk on the path to a lighted, peaceful, beautiful new world. It is hard to change ones self and become a new person the way Georgie and Jake Semple changed. That is because letting go is the hardest thing and seems harder than it is. However if one learns love a verb not a feeling like a quote says it will be very easy to live a new life which is full of happiness.
I think that the importance of having loving family members in one's life is VERY important. If one doesn't have family they'll feel lonely and like nobody cares for them but most importantly they have a big influence on a person because they live with them for a long, long time period. Family members can teach you to be a positive or negative person. An example would be with Jake Semple, his parents smoked, cursed, and did other negative things and that placed a mark on him because those were his parents, he got INFLUENCED by them!Also, without family members one won't be ACTUALIZED which means the ability to give back!! Family can make one into a positive or negative person!
Lack of love impacts a person ability to create healthy relationships because when one isn't loved they don't know how to actually love others! An example is when Georgie's mom always lied and had "FAKE love" for him, it made him not believe Sister Mary Angela truly and to lie to others. If his mother thought it was ok to lie then Georgie would lie to others because that's his surroundings. One’s environment can REALLY change who you truly are!!! That’s why many people say CHOOSE YOUR FRIENDS WISELY. It can really help!! Even though one can’t pick family choosing friends wisely can make a difference!!!!!!!!!!!
I think that family members are very important and with out them one will not feel whole. Although some Family members are abusive, In that case the child would do better with out family members. So in some cases the child will have a better sense of belonging with out the family members but with a legal guardian just like Georgie. I also think that with out a family that one will not fulfill the needs that every human needs one of them is sense of belonging and safety sadly Georgie has none of those things.
Lack of love effects ones life a lot. First Of all it affects one mentally because they are always afraid that some one will hurt them and they can not start over again and give the person that did not love them a chance .for example after Steve and Georgie’s drunk mom abused him he can not trust any one and has a hard time forming relationships. Also it can hurt some one physically because they might have been abused or even could have hurt themselves because they can get used to the hurt around them. Although I don’t want to burst any ones bubble but in reality you cant stop feeling hurt. Just like no matter how many times you get a paper cut it will hurt just the same. Also it can hurt some one spiritually because if some one keeps saying negative things to you ,you will start believing them and get a low self of system. In shallah Allah will help the many children in this world that are going through the same situation as Georgie.
Jake Semple had it a LOT easier time then Georgie because he had that little love from his parents. Georgie on the other hand had no idea who his father was and hated his mother. Every little bit of love helps make a person who they are. The less love they have the less paitent they are which effects their additude. The less love the worse additude.
Family and friends are very important in one's life. Family and friends complete a person. In Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs, one level is sense of belonging which is having friends and family who care and love you. It is in human nature that a person needs a companion or someone to look up too. Lack of love impacts one greatly because then one won't have a sense of belonging and then the hierarchy of needs will not be complete. Lack of love in one's life will result in not being able to trust others and love others in the future relationships. Kind of like when Georgie is abused and isn't loved by his mom and Steve. This results in him not trusting anyone at the school. One will have to gain back a sense of love to fulfill a healthy relationship in the future which is very hard.
It is important to have loving family members in one’s life because children need someone to look up to. One needs someone to trust and children need somebody they can trust to take care of them and protect them. If a child has a positive role model in their life, they could be determined to be just like them. If someone doesn't have anyone respectable, their life could be messed up and in shambles and they won't know right from wrong. What will Allah (SWT) ask the people on the Day of Judgment? Did we waste our days or did we teach younger kids? Adults are supposed to teach their youngsters what to do. e.g.: Georgie’s mother, Mrs. Burgess sits at home drinking whiskey doing nothing significant. Adults are supposed to care for their kids. But when Georgie goes to the school, some people care for him. But a lot of kids at school call him ugly, stupid and dumb. They threw rocks at his wounded arm which had a cast. There are some people who make Georgie happy such as Sister Mary Angela, Timothy, Robin, Sister Monica, Mrs. Sims, Mrs. Molly Harper, and Sister Dolores. These are people that Georgie feels good about. People such as Mrs. Burgess, Steve, Miss Cressman, and the boys at school are extremely rude. Georgie can’t get over it and start a new life because he still remembers Steve saying to him that he will kill him if he mentions to anyone about his beating from him. Even that memory of Steve is so powerful that he could not overcome it. His mother wouldn't even give him the three basic needs that a mother should give her child; food, shelter, and love. He doesn't have any sense of belonging.
Sixth graders, now I want you all to pose thick (thought provoking ) questions and invite others in class for discussion. Each student must answer at least two of all the questions posed by the class. Have fun blogging!
The importance of family memebers is that so they can help one and support one too. Family memebers (that are nice, loving, caring, etc.) give one a feeling of love, because they feel like they belong to people that care about them. In Georgie's household, there was absoluetly no love, care, etc., whatsoever. If there is no posistve and healthy interaction between the family members then that could affect everyone inthe family; especially the kids.
Geogie was lacking in reading at school, and I think this happened, because the mother (Mrs.burgess) and Steve (the mother's boyfriend) were not supporting Georgie in reading. in fact they were not supporting Georgie ar all; or outside of school.
Without family values, things would be completely different. In Islam, say that one's mother is mad or disappointed in them. That affects the children so much. Once there was a boy, and he did really bad on a test/quis at school, so the boy went to the office and and called up his mother. He had told his mother that he had done horrible on his test/quiz, because of her. he said that because she was mad at him he didn't do well. every action that a parent does always affects the kid(s) in a positive or negative way. this is what happened with Georgie. His mother and steve kept sending out bad and negtive energy.when I evaluate my family i see a lot of snergy. But if as I try to evaluate Georgie's home I see no snergy at all.
Lack of love in one's life can have a huge impact on a person.It can change a person completely, because it can make someone not confident, feel special, and also feel very unwanted. just look at Georgie. He had no one that is why he is so messed up mentally. because he had no love it had changed his relasionship between the famil, and it had also changed his personality too.
Georgie can no longer trust anybody no longer. He's self-esteem has brought him down to think that he is a nobody, because of the way he was treated. the only thing that he loves with all his heart, and the thing that he trusts the most is...his rosebush. Rosebushes can't speak so it can't harm Georgie
I agree with you Haneen. One's environment or family has alot to do with the way one grows up. In Georgie's case, he grew up being abused and learning to lie and not trust anyone. I also agree with your environment having alot to do with one's emotional and physical aspect. Georgie has been made fun of and put down so many times that he doesn't really care.
Zara do you think that there are any other reasons why Georgie likes Sr. Mary Angela better that Mrs. Harper? Oh yeah by the way you made some good connections.
I was wondering The same thing Niveen. If you think about it, he did think the gardener was a little bit like Steve because he told him if he had the right, he would smack him. Steve didn't have the right, and he still hurt him, so maybe Georgie thought he was going to, even if he wasn't.
I was wondering, When Mrs. Harper was crying (when they sang) why did Georgie think right away she was crying tears of sadness(he even felt sorry for her)?
ANSWERING TO NIVEENS Q: - I do agree that the gardner acted like Steve. I think so because Steve never really gave Georgie a chance to show him how he is. When Georgie saw the gardners expresion, I pictured him thinking that this lady will never be kind to me, she'll never learn to like me. I also think that Gergie also acted like steve in a teensy way. Gorgie always came back to what he wants to do. Gergie is only looking for the best though. But he's acting like Steve because he always trespasses her garden, making her feel that her garden can't earn respect. Know that Gergie is paying attension to the Garden, Mrs. Harper probably thinks that he's another one of those boys who messed up her pressious garden!
MY ANSWER TO HANEENS Q: - Well, I think that Gergie really depends on timothy, because he's basically his only friend. I think that he knew that Timothy could keep a secret in his hand and NOT let it loose. Yea, Gergie is close to Sr. Mary Angela, but since he earned fake love, he SUPPOSES that Sr. Mary Angela is doing the same. Gergie doesn't observe the people that get to know him. He thinks that only him, and his rosebush, and thmothy have a bond. The rest of the peoplr, out of the group, out of the subject, and OUT OF HIS LIFE! So Georgie shares his secret with Timothy because as a friend Timothy know thinks... maybe that Gergie is also a fake friend because he's lying to somebody. Whoever mensioned that scar/cut subject, it connects to this because how that person said Steve is his scar, he'll never heal. Steve just can't get a LIFE can he? I think that Gergie is STEVES LIFE!?! So in order to Steve, he needs Gergie to finish his life and build him back up again.
One’s family should be a haven that one can find security in from the world around them. But what happens when ones own family becomes a threat? Georgie’s mom always seemed to lie and neglect Georgie from the start. An example is how she used to sometimes help Steve shove Georgie into the closet and leave him there or how she used to lie to Georgie by telling him that he would soon be safe from Steve. As a result to all the neglecting and lies Georgie faced, he started to lose his trust towards others and he also started to gain fear that later on affected him both emotionally and physically. An incident that happened that proves my statement is; Georgie kept on questioning Sister Mary Angle about his rose bush and making her promise that he could meet it the next day because he didn’t believe her when she said that his bush is okay. Also, throughout most of the book, it mentioned how Georgie’s fear for Steve never left him and how he was always afraid that Steve lurked somewhere in the shadows just waiting to attack him. Overall, the loss of love Georgie faced led him to fear and lies that affected him like a scar that stays until one can overcome that scar and move on.
In class we said that Georgie’s memories of his experience in Tampa affect him like a scar. Are some of the people around him helping Georgie overcome that scar? If so who and how?
Answer to Haneens Q : I think that Georgie let "tim" (haha) see his back because Tim was one of "the people." Everybody knows that even though they might have alot of friends, or no friends at all, there is always one or two people who you can confind anything in, like georgie did to timothy. But these things come after time and time of exposure to the other's kindness and compassion, that you believe that truly, even if someone tortured that person, they would not reveal your secret.
Answe to haneens Q#2: I think that georgie automatically thought that Mrs.H's tears were from sorrow because never in his liofe has he seen anyother type of tears. In a life of mysery, sadness, and abuse, I doubt he knew that there was anything called tears of joy. And also, lets face it, Georgie is still young, at least 7 or 8, and as far as he knows, when your only son left is dead, your gonna' cry from sorrow.
Here are some thick questions: If Georgie loved his rosebush SO MUCH and could die for it, why was he able to give it up to Robin? Do you think that he'll have something else to love rather than the rosebush (since its gone)? Explain please.
Yes Hana, other people around Georgie are helping him get rid of that scar. Timothy was helping him even before he knew about Georgie's past when he invited Georgie to the sleep out. Georgie opened up with the other kids and didn't have the past in his mind. Also, Miss Harper was even helping him because when she threatened him about throwing his rosebush in the incinerator, she saw his back. Suddenly, she felt bad for him. Sister Mary Angela was helping him because whenever she felt that Georgie was tense, she played the organ for him.
1- Why does Georgie feel very comfortable with Robin more than he feels comfortable with other boys his age? What special quality does Robin have that Georgie likes?
2- Why does Georgie think that Mrs.Harper gave birth to him and that she is his real mother?
3- Why does Georgie feel jealous of Paul? Why does he feel guilty after he realizes that he is jealous?
Well, Haneen, Georgie told Timothy about his cuts because Timothy earned Georgie's trust. Timothy was so close to Georgie that Georgie was able to tell Tim about his past. This relates to human relations because Timothy and Georgie have a strong relationship. Trust is hard to earn, but it's easy to break.
Do any of you think that when the gardener got mad at Georgie, that Georgie thought he (as in the gardener) somewhat acted like Steve?
When Mrs.Harper complimented Georgie and he just ignored her, Old Eddie (the gardener) was furios. As we learned from before, when we are angry or furious, we tend to say things that we never intend to say. That is why the Prophet (s) told us to control our anger. Well, Old Eddie was furious all right and he said that if he had the right, he would beat Georgie up. Of course, Old Eddie never meant it. However as we learned in class, a 7 or 8 year old child would believe anything he/she hears. So, because Georgie remembered all the times Steve beat him, he got scared and Old Eddie reminded him of Steve.
Georgie always depended on life going his way so he always takes advantage of what he does. DO you think that things would be different if teaachers, kids, and his mom and her boyfriend weren't there telling him those things?
If Georgie was so scared to tell anyone about his cuts, why did he tell Tim anyway?
I think that Georgie told Tim about his cuts because he thought that he had to trust somebody and that Tim was the right person. Also, the more he spent time with Tim, the more he liked him. Adding on to that, when Georgie wasn't willing to tell Tim about why he kept his shirt on while they swam, Tim asked him: Aren't we friends? (not word for word). Georgie then decided that it was the right time to reveal his little secret and that he could trust Tim to keep a secret.
If Georgie's mother and Steve are in prison, why is it difficult for him to start a new life and forget everything in the past? I know that the cuts remind him of Steve, but he needs to put his past behind him. How do you think his life would be different if he had a loving, caring mother? Why doesn't Georgie trust any other grown-ups?
Yees, haneen what u are taught is going in you and you made an example about how georgie spoke rudley but his parents never realy said much. How can he be learning all these words or actions without his parents speaking?
Answer to Hana- Many people had helped him to overcome the scar and some of those people are Timothy and Sister Mary Angela. Timothy has always been there for Georgie since he came. Even if Georgie was being stubborn or mean he would always be there and Timothy chose his friend wosley becuase he gave some patience. Sister Mary Angela never ever gave up on Georgie and never will inshallah! She tried to make him understand that Ms. Harper was a nice woman and made him understand anything he misunderstood or not understand. Mr.Collier was also a big help because he gave him the sense of belonging. He read to him and gave him a little courage that he CAN do it!
My Answer To Hana's Question: I think that people are helping georgie overcome his scars. Unfortunately those scars will remaihere and may be painful. the people who are helping Georgie overcoming his scars are Timothy, Sr.Mary Angela, Robin, and Mr.Collier. Timothy helps him because by being a "Social Boy" and staying around Georgie has it's result: it rubs off on him. Sr.Mary Angela helps him because when ever he is acting negatively stubborn she tells him that the car is still skidding on the ice and it brings him closer to the reality. Mr.Collier helps him because he reads to him and established a positive relationship with Georgie. a very special one that brought them very close and allowed Georgie to learn and open up. Most of all robin helps him. He is like the brother Georgie never had. Robin and Georgie spend a lot of quality time together and it helps the both of them because Robin learns new words and Georgie has fun and gets a chance to practice his reading. Between Georgie and Robin there is a give and take attitude which is part of communication.
Answer to Haneen- Georgie was afaird of people judging him as a person who is different and not like anyone. Wanting to fit in like everyone else and Georgie couldn't because he knew he was hurt painfully that no one else had experienced. He had also ONLY told Timothy at first because he was the person who first came in and talked to him like a regular person. He felt comfratable telling him things even though Georgie was soo mean to him he went toward to him in kindness!
Answer to Haneens Question: I think he told Timothy because he finally found someone he could trust. It was probably very hard to keep his secret from his curious friend. I bet that there was something inside him that had to be let out. I see it as kind of holding your breath Eventually you have to let go and breath which is the same with secrets you must let them go. By letting your secret out to someone you feel comfortable because you know it's safe and it relieves you that atleast one of your burdens is taken care of.
My Question: If Georgie was an orphan istead of an abused child do you think he would be the same or do you think he would be different? Do you think his life would be better ot worse? Why?
In the first paragraph on p.g 142, what did the author mean when he said, "he felt as if two Georgies were fighting inside him, one pushing in a certain direction, the other quickly pushing in the other."?
From my point of view, I think that the reason Georgie only told Tim about his cuts is because, Georgie started to establish a good relationship with Tim that involved trust and reliance. Also another reson Georgie only told Tim about his cuts is becaues, Georgie new that Tim could keep a secret and that he was a true friend unlike any other and that if he told Tim he could not get hurt by Steve because he is locked up in jail.
Just like Lena and Haneen I too agree that the gardener acted somewhat like Steve especially when he threatened Georgie by saying that he would slap him. Also when the gardener first met Georgie in person when Georgie had come to help with the garden, he ignored Georgie and didn’t let him help much thinking that he would destroy all the flowers or annoy him and by doing this, he didn’t allow Georgie to show what he is capable of.
My answer to haneen's question: if Georgie was so scared to tell anyone about his cuts, why did he tell Tim anyway?
Well, because i think geogie was establishing a relationship with Timothy and by trusting him he felt he could tell him. Just like how with your friends you'll tell them a secret because you trust them not to tell anyone.
I will be answering hana's question: "he felt as if two Georgies were fighting inside him, one pushing in a certain direction, the other quickly pushing in the other."?
Well first of all good question! It meant that he felt he had a grudge over Ms.harper and wanted to be all down but the other side of him was saying to be kinder and trust ms.harper. I think that his conscience was telling him the right thing to trust Ms.harper but he was so used to not trusting people that he felt not too.
a replie to zahas question i do think that he cared a little about his mom being in jail but not as much as he probably would if he was not abused by her.
2 Why did Georgie not learn to forgive and forget?
Zaha, I think he wa trying to ignore the fact that he even had a mother and that she abused him. He practically forgot everything in his past as well, because of Robin.
Hana, the answer to your question is that the author wants to show the fact that he doesn't know what to do exactly. It's kind of like a civil war. He wants to do something but he still wants to do the other as well. It's also like he is lost inside of himself.
Following are the important points that stood out in the discussion: 1.Trust isn’t something where one can treat it like garbage. It is very valuable. Also, Georgie grew up in an environment that was evil. So, he thinks that everyone is like his mother and Steve because Georgie didn’t see the outside world. It’s kind of like if you are in a dark room for years and years and someone finds you and opens the door. You aren’t going to be used to the light because you were in the dark your whole life. It is the same thing with Georgie. He was in an evil kind of environment, so he thought everyone was evil, too.
2. It is obvious that Georgie has a hard time making relationships because he has never had a true retionship. He has also established many negative habits. One of the many he has adopted are holding grudges and anger issues. He easily gets angry at people and holds grudges for the people who wronged him. 3. Also, if one has a mom and a dad, there is balance in the family. Adding on to that, family members give love to each other. Another important thing about family members is that they care for each other and they sacrifice things for each other. If a person doesn’t have family members, that person strives and tries to look for their true identity. 4. The lack of love impacts a persons ability to establish a healthy relashionship with one another because they will distrust anyone, they will keep getting angry. it will also be hard to create friends. 5.The lack of love impacts a persons ability to establish healthy realtionships with others around him by if your parents or friends never showed that love is important or evershowed it it will be hard for you two give it when your are older. Georgie had never had such a deep love from his parents and not even his teacher!A teacher should be like a loving parent. He barley got a hug from his mom the only hug Steve would give would be with a dagger. 6. The importance of family members in one’s life is to make one actualized and fulfill one’s needs. However, before one becomes actualized, one must fulfill all the levels of the hierarchy of needs. Thus, when children are abused, they are not actualized. Take Georgie as an example. He didn’t have his physiological needs because his mother (Mrs. Burgess) would be too lazy to make him food. Sometimes, she would team up with Steve and they would tie Georgie up in the closet. Georgie would go hungry for days. That is called physical neglect. Georgie doesn’t have a sense of belonging because he feels as though he has been abandoned and nobody cares about him.
67 comments:
PART I:I think the importance of having friends and family members around a person are that one has a sense of belonging. It also helps because one has someone to depend on and someone who depends on them. Lack of love in one’s life can lead them to have low self-esteem, anger issues, and a bad type of independence. Lack of love can also create hardships while trying to make friends or trusting different people e.g. Georgie has a hard time making friends and/or trusting adults.
Well, yes Hassan please elaborate on how Georgie is having hard time establishing relationships. Please discuss why such people hold grudges and are less willing to forgive.
In my opinion, I think family members are very important in a person's life. One's family determines how one grew up, and how one is right now. Parents teach one how one should act(and this little detail is very important). For example: Georgie says things that shouldn't be said, and acts very rudely (even to his elders, and we are taught specifically not to disrespect our elders), this is only because he wasn't taught not to, in fact, his mother said these things in front of him, as though he was aloud to say them(showing him that she didn't really care about him).
This lack of love in his life, specifically from his mother(and her boyfriend), made him think most adults were like that, thus testing his trust with other people. Even at school, his pupils made fun of him, and his teacher didn't stop them(it mentions in the book she stopped them from making fun of a different student}. When he came across the other kids making fun of him, he didn't really care because he was so used to it.
Later on in the book, Robin's grandfather reads them a story about a boy who gets abused and sings to him self, and because Georgie could relate so much to the boy in the story, he wanted to read that book, and he started to learn how to read. Even after he learned it was Robin's mother's book, he still wanted to read it, and kept on insisting to keep it for a while(just like the flower book). Thus, Family members are very important a one's life due to emotional and physical behavior, and just the thought of someone is there for you, and will always be there for you as long as they live.
Yes, Haneen, did you notice Georgie views himself as "dumb, mean, and stupid". I agree with you; the environment one grows up in is extremely important in formulating one's personality as well as ideas about love, friendship and trust toward others.
By the way, wonderful discussion and this is how 'allowed' is spelled. JAK!
The importance of family members in ones life is that we each haveeacher holding onto our backs. Each one of us holds on to each others back, but the one who doesn't think have a tight relashionship with there family is like them at the end of the line. What i mean by being at the end of the line is, we each hold on to ones back, but if your at the end of the line, who's holding on to your back?
Lack of love with each other may effects one's relations with the world. Just like Georgie, he learned that he receives fake love, and to lie to his sorroundings!This will effect one by not trustiong anybody. Once that person finds out that one is lying to them, or thinking that they're a fake friend... then comes lonliness in ones heart because we ma think about ourselves! An example from the book is when Georgie starts to lose faith in Sr. Mary Angela, but this piece of Georigies heart came from Steve, and his drunken mom!
The importance of family members is part of the hierarchy of needs. The middle level is friendship and family. It is such a big importance that it is on the hierarchy of needs. In addition, your family members are like the love in your life. A family can make your reputation better or worse. It is the name you have the rest of your life.
The lack of love is preventing Georgie from establishing a relationship with Ms. Molly Harper. However, he has no problem making a relationship with Sister Mary Angela because he never has had a "nun" in his life. However, it is different with Ms. Harper because she is like Mrs. to Georgie because I guess she is a "Mom"
Now that Georgie has opened up to Robins Grandfather, he realizes that he is not actually not dumb. However, he never showed interest in reading. It could be because of his teacher or Georgie not showing interest in school subjects.
PART II: It is obvious that Georgie has a hard time making relationships because he has never had a true retionship. He has also established many negative habits. One of the many he has adopted are holding grudges and anger issues. He easily gets angry at people and holds grudges for the people who wronged him.
Part III: I also believe in what Haneen said about "Family members are very important a one's life due to emotional and physical behavior, and just the thought of someone is there for you, and will always be there for you as long as they live." because if one is lonely they never have anyone to talk to. Here is an example when a family member moves and lives alone without support it brings down their happiness and sense-of-belonging factor. I also agree with the fact that Georgie gets on people’s nerves’ and really gets annoying. “SOMETIMES YOU MIGHT EVEN THINK “DOES HE WANT HELP, LOVE, CARE OR NOT???SHOULDN’T HE APPERICIATE WHAT HE’S GETTING???”. But anyway he is kind of good on the inside but he hasn’t found that part of his personality yet. We all should thank Allah (SWT) for the families and friends we have around us. ALHAMDULILLAH!!!
I think that the importance of having family and freinds is like your protection and also someone you can trust.Having a family is better than being all alone like Gorgie.Gorgie never got the love and care from his "parents" and that is an example of not having a family. Having friends is like having someone you really trust like sister mary angela Gorgie trusts her as a friend becasue he knows that she never lies. Having friends could also give you a sense of belonging becasue then you'll know that there will be someone that trusts you and someone you can trust.If you don't have family or friends than your life is just blank and there is no use of living.
The lack of love is not healthy for you or the people around you. lack of love will be harder for you to trust people like gorgie becasue at first when he came to the boarding house he didn't trust anyone there becasue he didn't know how becasue he wasn't taight to trust anyone. it does make it harder for others to know you and you to know others. if a child has gone through hard ships than you will not love or trust anyone.it will take time to build a relationship whith someone you don't know just like gorgie it took time for him to know timothy and others.
In my opinion, having family members is very important in one’s life because family members are the people one spends most of the time with. Also, if one has a mom and a dad, there is balance in the family. Adding on to that, family members give love to each other. Another important thing about family members is that they care for each other and they sacrifice things for each other. If a person doesn’t have family members, that person strives and tries to look for their true identity.
Lack of love has a big impact on a person’s ability to establish healthy relationships with others around him because that person would think that the whole world is bad and evil. Take Georgie as an example. His mom is always getting herself drunk and he doesn’t even know who his father is. And if you think that’s not enough well listen to this! He is abused by his mom and Steve and he is absolutely horrified whenever he thinks of Steve. Now, Georgie has a hard time believing people and he lies. He is rude to people sometimes, so people don’t want to be around him. Luckily, as the story progresses and he goes to a school that is far away from his mom and Steve, his personality improves.
The importance of having family friends, and love has a very strong
value in life. Incase you are ever feeling down or sad you have friends and to back you up.
Georgie thinks that only friend and family is his rose bush. The
rose bush can hurt his feeling because a rose bush can't talk
or yell at Georgie.Georgies lack of love effects him badly, he has
problems making relationships, lying, and holding grudges.
All these issues and the reason for it is because of his past and
the people in it. The reason of his lying is because of Steve, he
told Georgie if he ever told on Steve about his beatings he said that he will kill Georgie. He has
probelms of trusting adults because of his mother. She always
said that she loves Georgie but
those are all lies and she only says that only when she is drunk.
But as the book goes on he starts
to lose those habits and receive love. That’s why friends and family are very important.
I think the importance of having family members in a persons life is so that they can develope love and protection. The lack of love impacts a persons ability to establish a healthy relashionship with one another because they will distrust anyone, they will keep getting angry. it will also be hard to create friends. The reason is because they will think that somebody is tring to hurt them. An example is Georgie because he is havi a hard time trustig people because of his lack of love.
The importance of having freinds and family members is that they can make you feel comfortable and can protect. Also that they will defend you if someone if someone is or ever bothering you. Also so you are not lonely and you have someone to talk to. Also they can be related because you are used to talking and communicating with them. And they will have a good relationship with you because you like to hang out with them and play with them. But Georgie does have family members but they don't treat him tthe way he is suppose to be treated. And he wants them to be nice to him but they just won't listen. So when you have family members be nice to them so that they will be happy when they are around you.
The importance of family members in one’s life is the sense of belonging. For example t-t T.J his family didn’t give the felling of sense belonging so he went with the white boys so he can fell belonged in life. Also another importance of family is that they fulfill the family needs. Their extremely alike to the hyraces of needs. Lack of love impact a person's ability to establish healthy relationships with others around him because the reason they can’t love is their afraid. When they are afraid they can’t trust an one and then that means they can’t have a healthy relationship with others around him t-t is that Georgie is like the little girl in the poem Sara she still loves her mom and dad and so dose Georgie because he knows his mom is the one in life who is suppose to give him the sense of belonging. The reason I think so is because in the being of the story he tells his mom that you shouldn’t let Steve in the house. He is telling her that because he still believes him.
Family and friends are what makes up a child. What ever kind of person the child hangs around with will make up who the child is. If they hang around with good kids the good rubs off on them. But if they hang around with bad kids the bad will rub onto them. Familys are the first step of showing communication. If the child couldn't function properly in his family then he won't be able to function in anything. People never want to be around the *odd* one of the group. If the child has no idea how to function he will become the odd one. In Surviving The Applewhites no one wanted to be around Jake because he was the odd one. People in this world think normal is best and if you can't maintane a good realationship with your family then people will not be around you. This causes the child to develope negative additude traits, which are very hard to get rid of.
I think the importance of having family members in ones life is for the child to know what things are wrong to say and to do and what are right. If the enviorment you live in and its not that great then your personality could be just like that. Not only where you live but who you live with and how you live. Example- Georgie was in place where there was hate and pain all over him. You could literaly see how this enviorment destryoed him. Steve was all over his life that it was crumbled and taken over and he couldnt stop him becuase he was "dumb".
The lack of love impacts a persons ability to establish healthy realtionships with others around him by if your parents or friends never showed that love is important or evershowed it it will be hard for you two give it when your are older. Georgie had never had such a deep love from his parents and not even his teacher!A teacher should be like a loving parent. He barley got a hug from his mom the only hug Steve would give would be with a dagger.
In the future Georgie might have been a dull parent with a bad history. If he had truned like his mom he would probably be also abusive beacuse of the lack of love. He would say that my mom didnt give this love to me so you deserve this. The importance of love and family who care is so important because of the fact that it may go on forever, child to child, year to year, and day by day.
Yes, Saif. I agree with you about Jake Semple, but how about Georgie. Jake Semple grew up in a house of loving but criminal parents who corrupted Jake's ideas of right from wrong. What are the differences between Jake's and Georgie's parents and how these fifferences impact both the characters' personalities.
I think the importance of having a family is that you actually have someone to support you and someone to confind your thoughts to. All of us know that when we are feeling down, we want to talk to someone or we would explode from allt he pressure. Well,it is the same with Georgie.No one to talk to, no one to confind secrets with, it is a pretty lonely and horrible place to live in. That is why Gergie takes advsntage of the people who do care, like the librarian, Mrs.Simms, and especially the rosebush. The problem is, he is having a hard time Trusting people who, as he knows in his heart, actuallly want to help him. In his other life, he learned that "The brain is always the master of your controls because the heart will lead you to a place of hurt." Well, in this new area, he is slowly adapting to the rule of how the heart leads you to a land of love and peace, but to some occasions, like Mrs.Harper, his brain is still in control.
The importance of family members in one’s life is to make one actualized and fulfill one’s needs. However, before one becomes actualized, one must fulfill all the levels of the hierarchy of needs. Thus, when children are abused, they are not actualized. Take Georgie as an example. He didn’t have his physiological needs because his mother (Mrs. Burgess) would be too lazy to make him food. Sometimes, she would team up with Steve and they would tie Georgie up in the closet. Georgie would go hungry for days. That is called physical neglect. Georgie doesn’t have a sense of belonging because he feels as though he has been abandoned and nobody cares about him. Most people in his environment make fun of him, beat him up, etc. Georgie isn’t really protected. In fact, he is being hurt physically AND emotionally. He has low self esteem about himself because he doesn’t get any praises, rewards, etc. But, he takes everything in and doesn’t let it out. What I mean by this is that Steve hurts Georgie SO MUCH and Georgie doesn’t even tell anybody. And finally, he is not actualized because in order to be actualized, one must establish all the levels of the hierarchy. But, when he goes to live with Sister Mary Angela, his life opens up for him and he gradually realizes that hope is on its way.
Lack of love impacts one’s ability to establish healthy relationships with others around him because one might grow up in an environment where people don’t keep their promises. For example, Georgie knows that his mother is a liar. One day, when she was drunk, his mother told him that Steve will never come into the apartment ever again. Georgie knows she’s lying because she has deceived him many times. When Georgie was at his new home, Sister Mary Angela told Georgie that the rosebush was healthy in Mrs. Harper’s garden and Georgie told her that she was a liar. Once one loses a person’s trust, it is difficult to get it back. Trust isn’t something where one can treat it like garbage. It is very valuable. Also, Georgie grew up in an environment that was evil. So, he thinks that everyone is like his mother and Steve because Georgie didn’t see the outside world. It’s kind of like if you are in a dark room for years and years and someone finds you and opens the door. You aren’t going to be used to the light because you were in the dark your whole life. It is the same thing with Georgie. He was in an evil kind of environment, so he thought everyone was evil, too.
In my opinion the family members are a BIG need as well as a want and they are VERY important. If one has a positive relationship with all their family they will have somebody to support them when they need support, comfort them when they need comfort and stick up for you no matter what happens. One can have someone to encourage them. One may also hold treasured memories and may enjoy fun times when one laughs while one also feels sorrow at sad times when one cries.
However if one lacks a good relationship and love, one is on ones own and must stand up on ones own two legs and if you fall pick your self up because there is no helping hand. One looses trust and hope and gives up because there is nobody to push one forward. One is then all alone in a dark, lonely, empty, closed up world just like Georgie when he lived with his mother and boyfriend in Tampa and got abused.
Similarly when one doesn’t have a good family from the beginning one will not establish good relationships with others. One must then learn to leave the past behind and start a new joyful, pleasant life. One must learn to open up and walk on the path to a lighted, peaceful, beautiful new world. It is hard to change ones self and become a new person the way Georgie and Jake Semple changed. That is because letting go is the hardest thing and seems harder than it is. However if one learns love a verb not a feeling like a quote says it will be very easy to live a new life which is full of happiness.
I think that the importance of having loving family members in one's life is VERY important. If one doesn't have family they'll feel lonely and like nobody cares for them but most importantly they have a big influence on a person because they live with them for a long, long time period. Family members can teach you to be a positive or negative person. An example would be with Jake Semple, his parents smoked, cursed, and did other negative things and that placed a mark on him because those were his parents, he got INFLUENCED by them!Also, without family members one won't be ACTUALIZED which means the ability to give back!! Family can make one into a positive or negative person!
Lack of love impacts a person ability to create healthy relationships because when one isn't loved they don't know how to actually love others! An example is when Georgie's mom always lied and had "FAKE love" for him, it made him not believe Sister Mary Angela truly and to lie to others. If his mother thought it was ok to lie then Georgie would lie to others because that's his surroundings. One’s environment can REALLY change who you truly are!!! That’s why many people say CHOOSE YOUR FRIENDS WISELY. It can really help!! Even though one can’t pick family choosing friends wisely can make a difference!!!!!!!!!!!
I think that family members are very important and with out them one will not feel whole. Although some Family members are abusive, In that case the child would do better with out family members. So in some cases the child will have a better sense of belonging with out the family members but with a legal guardian just like Georgie. I also think that with out a family that one will not fulfill the needs that every human needs one of them is sense of belonging and safety sadly Georgie has none of those things.
Lack of love effects ones life a lot. First Of all it affects one mentally because they are always afraid that some one will hurt them and they can not start over again and give the person that did not love them a chance .for example after Steve and Georgie’s drunk mom abused him he can not trust any one and has a hard time forming relationships. Also it can hurt some one physically because they might have been abused or even could have hurt themselves because they can get used to the hurt around them. Although I don’t want to burst any ones bubble but in reality you cant stop feeling hurt. Just like no matter how many times you get a paper cut it will hurt just the same. Also it can hurt some one spiritually because if some one keeps saying negative things to you ,you will start believing them and get a low self of system. In shallah Allah will help the many children in this world that are going through the same situation as Georgie.
Jake Semple had it a LOT easier time then Georgie because he had that little love from his parents. Georgie on the other hand had no idea who his father was and hated his mother. Every little bit of love helps make a person who they are. The less love they have the less paitent they are which effects their additude. The less love the worse additude.
Family and friends are very important in one's life. Family and friends complete a person. In Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs, one level is sense of belonging which is having friends and family who care and love you. It is in human nature that a person needs a companion or someone to look up too. Lack of love impacts one greatly because then one won't have a sense of belonging and then the hierarchy of needs will not be complete. Lack of love in one's life will result in not being able to trust others and love others in the future relationships. Kind of like when Georgie is abused and isn't loved by his mom and Steve. This results in him not trusting anyone at the school. One will have to gain back a sense of love to fulfill a healthy relationship in the future which is very hard.
It is important to have loving family members in one’s life because children need someone to look up to. One needs someone to trust and children need somebody they can trust to take care of them and protect them. If a child has a positive role model in their life, they could be determined to be just like them. If someone doesn't have anyone respectable, their life could be messed up and in shambles and they won't know right from wrong. What will Allah (SWT) ask the people on the Day of Judgment? Did we waste our days or did we teach younger kids? Adults are supposed to teach their youngsters what to do. e.g.: Georgie’s mother, Mrs. Burgess sits at home drinking whiskey doing nothing significant. Adults are supposed to care for their kids. But when Georgie goes to the school, some people care for him. But a lot of kids at school call him ugly, stupid and dumb. They threw rocks at his wounded arm which had a cast. There are some people who make Georgie happy such as Sister Mary Angela, Timothy, Robin, Sister Monica, Mrs. Sims, Mrs. Molly Harper, and Sister Dolores. These are people that Georgie feels good about. People such as Mrs. Burgess, Steve, Miss Cressman, and the boys at school are extremely rude. Georgie can’t get over it and start a new life because he still remembers Steve saying to him that he will kill him if he mentions to anyone about his beating from him. Even that memory of Steve is so powerful that he could not overcome it. His mother wouldn't even give him the three basic needs that a mother should give her child; food, shelter, and love. He doesn't have any sense of belonging.
Zaina, very nice discussion and an excellent analogy of living in the darkness.
Keep up the good work.
Sixth graders, now I want you all to pose thick (thought provoking ) questions and invite others in class for discussion. Each student must answer at least two of all the questions posed by the class.
Have fun blogging!
The importance of family memebers is that so they can help one and support one too. Family memebers (that are nice, loving, caring, etc.) give one a feeling of love, because they feel like they belong to people that care about them. In Georgie's household, there was absoluetly no love, care, etc., whatsoever. If there is no posistve and healthy interaction between the family members then that could affect everyone inthe family; especially the kids.
Geogie was lacking in reading at school, and I think this happened, because the mother (Mrs.burgess) and Steve (the mother's boyfriend) were not supporting Georgie in reading. in fact they were not supporting Georgie ar all; or outside of school.
Without family values, things would be completely different. In Islam, say that one's mother is mad or disappointed in them. That affects the children so much. Once there was a boy, and he did really bad on a test/quis at school, so the boy went to the office and and called up his mother. He had told his mother that he had done horrible on his test/quiz, because of her. he said that because she was mad at him he didn't do well. every action that a parent does always affects the kid(s) in a positive or negative way. this is what happened with Georgie. His mother and steve kept sending out bad and negtive energy.when I evaluate my family i see a lot of snergy. But if as I try to evaluate Georgie's home I see no snergy at all.
Lack of love in one's life can have a huge impact on a person.It can change a person completely, because it can make someone not confident, feel special, and also feel very unwanted. just look at Georgie. He had no one that is why he is so messed up mentally. because he had no love it had changed his relasionship between the famil, and it had also changed his personality too.
Georgie can no longer trust anybody no longer. He's self-esteem has brought him down to think that he is a nobody, because of the way he was treated. the only thing that he loves with all his heart, and the thing that he trusts the most is...his rosebush. Rosebushes can't speak so it can't harm Georgie
I agree with you Haneen. One's environment or family has alot to do with the way one grows up. In Georgie's case, he grew up being abused and learning to lie and not trust anyone. I also agree with your environment having alot to do with one's emotional and physical aspect. Georgie has been made fun of and put down so many times that he doesn't really care.
Do any of you think that when the gardener got mad at Georgie, that Georgie thought he (as in the gardener) somewhat acted like Steve?
Zara do you think that there are any other reasons why Georgie likes Sr. Mary Angela better that Mrs. Harper? Oh yeah by the way you made some good connections.
I was wondering The same thing Niveen. If you think about it, he did think the gardener was a little bit like Steve because he told him if he had the right, he would smack him. Steve didn't have the right, and he still hurt him, so maybe Georgie thought he was going to, even if he wasn't.
I was wondering, When Mrs. Harper was crying (when they sang) why did Georgie think right away she was crying tears of sadness(he even felt sorry for her)?
Another question that popped up was if Georgie was so scared to tell anyone about his cuts, why did he tell Tim anyway?
ANSWERING TO NIVEENS Q:
- I do agree that the gardner acted like Steve. I think so because Steve never really gave Georgie a chance to show him how he is. When Georgie saw the gardners expresion, I pictured him thinking that this lady will never be kind to me, she'll never learn to like me. I also think that Gergie also acted like steve in a teensy way. Gorgie always came back to what he wants to do. Gergie is only looking for the best though. But he's acting like Steve because he always trespasses her garden, making her feel that her garden can't earn respect. Know that Gergie is paying attension to the Garden, Mrs. Harper probably thinks that he's another one of those boys who messed up her pressious garden!
MY ANSWER TO HANEENS Q:
- Well, I think that Gergie really depends on timothy, because he's basically his only friend. I think that he knew that Timothy could keep a secret in his hand and NOT let it loose. Yea, Gergie is close to Sr. Mary Angela, but since he earned fake love, he SUPPOSES that Sr. Mary Angela is doing the same. Gergie doesn't observe the people that get to know him. He thinks that only him, and his rosebush, and thmothy have a bond. The rest of the peoplr, out of the group, out of the subject, and OUT OF HIS LIFE! So Georgie shares his secret with Timothy because as a friend Timothy know thinks... maybe that Gergie is also a fake friend because he's lying to somebody. Whoever mensioned that scar/cut subject, it connects to this because how that person said Steve is his scar, he'll never heal. Steve just can't get a LIFE can he? I think that Gergie is STEVES LIFE!?! So in order to Steve, he needs Gergie to finish his life and build him back up again.
One’s family should be a haven that one can find security in from the world around them. But what happens when ones own family becomes a threat? Georgie’s mom always seemed to lie and neglect Georgie from the start. An example is how she used to sometimes help Steve shove Georgie into the closet and leave him there or how she used to lie to Georgie by telling him that he would soon be safe from Steve.
As a result to all the neglecting and lies Georgie faced, he started to lose his trust towards others and he also started to gain fear that later on affected him both emotionally and physically. An incident that happened that proves my statement is; Georgie kept on questioning Sister Mary Angle about his rose bush and making her promise that he could meet it the next day because he didn’t believe her when she said that his bush is okay. Also, throughout most of the book, it mentioned how Georgie’s fear for Steve never left him and how he was always afraid that Steve lurked somewhere in the shadows just waiting to attack him. Overall, the loss of love Georgie faced led him to fear and lies that affected him like a scar that stays until one can overcome that scar and move on.
In class we said that Georgie’s memories of his experience in Tampa affect him like a scar. Are some of the people around him helping Georgie overcome that scar? If so who and how?
Why is it that even though Georgie knows in his heart he wants to forgive Mrs.Harper, he hase'nt?
Answer to Haneens Q : I think that Georgie let "tim" (haha) see his back because Tim was one of "the people." Everybody knows that even though they might have alot of friends, or no friends at all, there is always one or two people who you can confind anything in, like georgie did to timothy. But these things come after time and time of exposure to the other's kindness and compassion, that you believe that truly, even if someone tortured that person, they would not reveal your secret.
Answe to haneens Q#2: I think that georgie automatically thought that Mrs.H's tears were from sorrow because never in his liofe has he seen anyother type of tears. In a life of mysery, sadness, and abuse, I doubt he knew that there was anything called tears of joy. And also, lets face it, Georgie is still young, at least 7 or 8, and as far as he knows, when your only son left is dead, your gonna' cry from sorrow.
Here are some thick questions:
If Georgie loved his rosebush SO MUCH and could die for it, why was he able to give it up to Robin? Do you think that he'll have something else to love rather than the rosebush (since its gone)? Explain please.
Yes Hana, other people around Georgie are helping him get rid of that scar. Timothy was helping him even before he knew about Georgie's past when he invited Georgie to the sleep out. Georgie opened up with the other kids and didn't have the past in his mind. Also, Miss Harper was even helping him because when she threatened him about throwing his rosebush in the incinerator, she saw his back. Suddenly, she felt bad for him. Sister Mary Angela was helping him because whenever she felt that Georgie was tense, she played the organ for him.
I have three thick questions:
1- Why does Georgie feel very comfortable with Robin more than he feels comfortable with other boys his age? What special quality does Robin have that Georgie likes?
2- Why does Georgie think that Mrs.Harper gave birth to him and that she is his real mother?
3- Why does Georgie feel jealous of Paul? Why does he feel guilty after he realizes that he is jealous?
Well, Haneen, Georgie told Timothy about his cuts because Timothy earned Georgie's trust. Timothy was so close to Georgie that Georgie was able to tell Tim about his past. This relates to human relations because Timothy and Georgie have a strong relationship. Trust is hard to earn, but it's easy to break.
Why do you guys think that Gergie stayed in his house, rather than running of? Do you think that he gave his mom another chance?
This is Niveen's question:
Do any of you think that when the gardener got mad at Georgie, that Georgie thought he (as in the gardener) somewhat acted like Steve?
When Mrs.Harper complimented Georgie and he just ignored her, Old Eddie (the gardener) was furios. As we learned from before, when we are angry or furious, we tend to say things that we never intend to say. That is why the Prophet (s) told us to control our anger. Well, Old Eddie was furious all right and he said that if he had the right, he would beat Georgie up. Of course, Old Eddie never meant it. However as we learned in class, a 7 or 8 year old child would believe anything he/she hears. So, because Georgie remembered all the times Steve beat him, he got scared and Old Eddie reminded him of Steve.
Georgie always depended on life going his way so he always takes advantage of what he does. DO you think that things would be different if teaachers, kids, and his mom and her boyfriend weren't there telling him those things?
At the end of the book Georgie bonds with Mrs.Harper how did
the bond start and why?
What does Georgie mean by when he says a ne Georgie is appearing and
how did a new Georgie appear?
Haneen asked:
If Georgie was so scared to tell anyone about his cuts, why did he tell Tim anyway?
I think that Georgie told Tim about his cuts because he thought that he had to trust somebody and that Tim was the right person. Also, the more he spent time with Tim, the more he liked him. Adding on to that, when Georgie wasn't willing to tell Tim about why he kept his shirt on while they swam, Tim asked him: Aren't we friends? (not word for word). Georgie then decided that it was the right time to reveal his little secret and that he could trust Tim to keep a secret.
If Georgie's mother and Steve are in prison, why is it difficult for him to start a new life and forget everything in the past? I know that the cuts remind him of Steve, but he needs to put his past behind him.
How do you think his life would be different if he had a loving, caring mother?
Why doesn't Georgie trust any other grown-ups?
Yees, haneen what u are taught is going in you and you made an example about how georgie spoke rudley but his parents never realy said much. How can he be learning all these words or actions without his parents speaking?
Answer to Hana-
Many people had helped him to overcome the scar and some of those people are Timothy and Sister Mary Angela. Timothy has always been there for Georgie since he came. Even if Georgie was being stubborn or mean he would always be there and Timothy chose his friend wosley becuase he gave some patience. Sister Mary Angela never ever gave up on Georgie and never will inshallah! She tried to make him understand that Ms. Harper was a nice woman and made him understand anything he misunderstood or not understand. Mr.Collier was also a big help because he gave him the sense of belonging. He read to him and gave him a little courage that he CAN do it!
Why does almost everyone put him down in a sense if so who?
My Answer To Hana's Question:
I think that people are helping georgie overcome his scars. Unfortunately those scars will remaihere and may be painful. the people who are helping Georgie overcoming his scars are Timothy, Sr.Mary Angela, Robin, and Mr.Collier. Timothy helps him because by being a "Social Boy" and staying around Georgie has it's result: it rubs off on him. Sr.Mary Angela helps him because when ever he is acting negatively stubborn she tells him that the car is still skidding on the ice and it brings him closer to the reality. Mr.Collier helps him because he reads to him and established a positive relationship with Georgie. a very special one that brought them very close and allowed Georgie to learn and open up. Most of all robin helps him. He is like the brother Georgie never had. Robin and Georgie spend a lot of quality time together and it helps the both of them because Robin learns new words and Georgie has fun and gets a chance to practice his reading. Between Georgie and Robin there is a give and take attitude which is part of communication.
Answer to Haneen-
Georgie was afaird of people judging him as a person who is different and not like anyone. Wanting to fit in like everyone else and Georgie couldn't because he knew he was hurt painfully that no one else had experienced. He had also ONLY told Timothy at first because he was the person who first came in and talked to him like a regular person. He felt comfratable telling him things even though Georgie was soo mean to him he went toward to him in kindness!
Answer to Haneens Question:
I think he told Timothy because he finally found someone he could trust. It was probably very hard to keep his secret from his curious friend. I bet that there was something inside him that had to be let out. I see it as kind of holding your breath Eventually you have to let go and breath which is the same with secrets you must let them go. By letting your secret out to someone you feel comfortable because you know it's safe and it relieves you that atleast one of your burdens is taken care of.
My Question:
If Georgie was an orphan istead of an abused child do you think he would be the same or do you think he would be different? Do you think his life would be better ot worse? Why?
In the first paragraph on p.g 142, what did the author mean when he said, "he felt as if two Georgies were fighting inside him, one pushing in a certain direction, the other quickly pushing in the other."?
From my point of view, I think that the reason Georgie only told Tim about his cuts is because, Georgie started to establish a good relationship with Tim that involved trust and reliance. Also another reson Georgie only told Tim about his cuts is becaues, Georgie new that Tim could keep a secret and that he was a true friend unlike any other and that if he told Tim he could not get hurt by Steve because he is locked up in jail.
Just like Lena and Haneen I too agree that the gardener acted somewhat like Steve especially when he threatened Georgie by saying that he would slap him. Also when the gardener first met Georgie in person when Georgie had come to help with the garden, he ignored Georgie and didn’t let him help much thinking that he would destroy all the flowers or annoy him and by doing this, he didn’t allow Georgie to show what he is capable of.
Mashallah, some of the questions are wonderful and really thought provoking. Students, you may continue answering your peers' questions till Friday.
did georgie care that his mother went to jail or did he love her still??
My answer to haneen's question: if Georgie was so scared to tell anyone about his cuts, why did he tell Tim anyway?
Well, because i think geogie was establishing a relationship with Timothy and by trusting him he felt he could tell him. Just like how with your friends you'll tell them a secret because you trust them not to tell anyone.
I will be answering hana's question: "he felt as if two Georgies were fighting inside him, one pushing in a certain direction, the other quickly pushing in the other."?
Well first of all good question! It meant that he felt he had a grudge over Ms.harper and wanted to be all down but the other side of him was saying to be kinder and trust ms.harper. I think that his conscience was telling him the right thing to trust Ms.harper but he was so used to not trusting people that he felt not too.
a replie to zahas question i do think that he cared a little about his mom being in jail but not as much as he probably would if he was not abused by her.
1 why is everyone still putting Georgie down?
2 Why did Georgie not learn to forgive and forget?
Zaha, I think he wa trying to ignore the fact that he even had a mother and that she abused him. He practically forgot everything in his past as well, because of Robin.
Hana, the answer to your question is that the author wants to show the fact that he doesn't know what to do exactly. It's kind of like a civil war. He wants to do something but he still wants to do the other as well. It's also like he is lost inside of himself.
Following are the important points that stood out in the discussion:
1.Trust isn’t something where one can treat it like garbage. It is very valuable. Also, Georgie grew up in an environment that was evil. So, he thinks that everyone is like his mother and Steve because Georgie didn’t see the outside world. It’s kind of like if you are in a dark room for years and years and someone finds you and opens the door. You aren’t going to be used to the light because you were in the dark your whole life. It is the same thing with Georgie. He was in an evil kind of environment, so he thought everyone was evil, too.
2. It is obvious that Georgie has a hard time making relationships because he has never had a true retionship. He has also established many negative habits. One of the many he has adopted are holding grudges and anger issues. He easily gets angry at people and holds grudges for the people who wronged him.
3. Also, if one has a mom and a dad, there is balance in the family. Adding on to that, family members give love to each other. Another important thing about family members is that they care for each other and they sacrifice things for each other. If a person doesn’t have family members, that person strives and tries to look for their true identity.
4. The lack of love impacts a persons ability to establish a healthy relashionship with one another because they will distrust anyone, they will keep getting angry. it will also be hard to create friends.
5.The lack of love impacts a persons ability to establish healthy realtionships with others around him by if your parents or friends never showed that love is important or evershowed it it will be hard for you two give it when your are older. Georgie had never had such a deep love from his parents and not even his teacher!A teacher should be like a loving parent. He barley got a hug from his mom the only hug Steve would give would be with a dagger.
6. The importance of family members in one’s life is to make one actualized and fulfill one’s needs. However, before one becomes actualized, one must fulfill all the levels of the hierarchy of needs. Thus, when children are abused, they are not actualized. Take Georgie as an example. He didn’t have his physiological needs because his mother (Mrs. Burgess) would be too lazy to make him food. Sometimes, she would team up with Steve and they would tie Georgie up in the closet. Georgie would go hungry for days. That is called physical neglect. Georgie doesn’t have a sense of belonging because he feels as though he has been abandoned and nobody cares about him.
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