Charlotte Doyle Character Analysis

The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle Essay: Journey of Change As autumn to spring, as night to day, as black to white, all things change. Change is perpetual, eternal, inevitable, and constant. “Change is the essence of life. Be willing to surrender what you are for what you could become,” anonymous. The Newberry Award novel, “The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle” written by Avi, truly depicts great change. Set in a ship sailing vast seas and oceans of the 1800’s, the characters face troubles and hardships that lead them to the journey of change and transformation in their lives. The most characters that depict great change are Charlotte, our protagonist, Captain Jaggery, our antagonist, and former Second mate, Keetch. Through this tumultuous voyage, Charlotte metamorphoses into a lady of great beauty, Captain Jaggery deteriorates, and Keetch’s duplicitous nature arises. Metamorphosis and change of oneself occurs when one recognizes the first step which is awareness, and the second which is acceptance. From an egg to a butterfly, Charlotte Doyle truly transforms and metamorphoses into a beautiful human being that fights for justice and equality in a time where slavery, classism, and racism prevailed. Charlotte’s life changes through several choices and actions she takes. Firstly, Charlotte witnesses a horrifying panorama of Captain Jaggery thrashing and lashing her beloved friend Zachariah, thus she finds out the true nature of Captain Jaggery. “ When he saw they were bloody he swore a savage oath, jumped forward, and tore the whip from my hand, whirled about and began beating Zachariah with such fury as I had never seen,” (pg 70). This changes her life because she admired Captain Jaggery and saw him as a “father” figure. Her whole impression of Captain Jaggery metamorphoses completely also because he chose Zachariah, her beloved friend, to lash and cause extreme anguish to. She also learns to be more aware and less naïve. Secondly,