Introduction
The main thesis: Death determines the life of Cosima Noline and finally changes it The main character in the novel “Animal Dreams” by Barbara Kingsolver, Codi Noline, is a person who has always denied the possibility and importance of change in peoples lives. Her sister Hallie has a positive attitude towards the way of the world and thinks “nothing stays with you all your life” [p. 31], which means everything can be changed to turn out well. In Codi´s opinion there is nothing she can ever steer in the world not even in her own microcosm and although the name Cosima means “order in the cosmos” [p. 13], she feels that she “must have sensed the lack of cosmic order in (her) future” [p. 13]. When she grew up in Grace, Codi felt “unfit to live” [p. 184], also in present she has “no more mission in life than I´d been born with [p. 28]. She believes she is born as the bad part of the two sisters. The one who goes hand in hand with death. When Codi once looks at the plants before her front step, she thinks they are “right down to death´s door, but water always brought them back” [p. 89], whereas she “could only wish for such resilience” [p. 89] to escape death. In opposition to her fate as being the death angel, her sister Hallie has got the gift to protect life because she knows how to grow plants and how to help people in emergencies.
The roles cannot be changed. Codi is surrounded by death. Her mother died when she was a child and at the age of sixteen Codi had a miscarriage. She is the first person who explores the poison which is killing Grace from underneath. For her it seems to be just another bad omen of her failed life. She does not recognize the positive images around her, for example the strong relationship with her sister Hallie, not also that she is the savior of Grace, because she has enabled the people of Grace to take the last chance and save their hometown. In the end of the novel, the life of Codi Noline turns upside down and this dramatic change is on one hand the result of Hallie´s death in Nicaragua. The closest person in her lifetime, whom Codi always believed was the better part of herself has now gone forever. On the other hand that she survived the airplane flight accidentally is the second occurrence on her way towards a new life. Suddenly she recognizes that “so much of life is animal instinct” [p. 319]. It is a new aspect on her life, that she as a human being also inherited “fear and the will to live” [p. 319]. However, these are the traumatic incidents she always seemed to need. It does not make her life seemingly unbearable but turns her despair around. Halimeda, which means “thinking of the sea” [p. 13], nevermore the center of Codi´s life, is dead. But the sea is the origin of all life on earth and becomes the bearer of Codi Noline´s “new life”. The discontent that has chased her since she was born is now unraveled.
Table of Contents
I. Introduction
Main thesis: Death determines the life of Cosima Noline and finally changes it
II. Specification
(a) The life of Cosima Noline
(b) The relationship to Cosima´s hometown Grace
(c) Religious leitmotifs that determine her past and Future life
(d) The change in her life- from the old Codi to a new Codi
III. Concluding remark
Death as a companion of Cosima Noline
IV. Bibliography
Research Objectives and Themes
This paper examines how the protagonist Codi Noline in Barbara Kingsolver's novel "Animal Dreams" undergoes a profound psychological transformation triggered by her evolving attitude toward death, ultimately leading her to embrace her heritage and find a sense of belonging.
- The influence of traumatic events on Codi Noline's perception of life and death.
- The symbolic significance of the town of Grace and Codi's shifting relationship to it.
- Analysis of religious and numerological leitmotifs used to mirror the protagonist's internal state.
- The pivotal role of sisterly bonds and family reconciliation in the healing process.
- The transition from a nihilistic, detached worldview to one rooted in acceptance and connection.
Excerpt from the Book
The main thesis: Death determines the life of Cosima Noline and finally changes it
The main character in the novel “Animal Dreams” by Barbara Kingsolver, Codi Noline, is a person who has always denied the possibility and importance of change in peoples lives. Her sister Hallie has a positive attitude towards the way of the world and thinks “nothing stays with you all your life” [p. 31], which means everything can be changed to turn out well. In Codi´s opinion there is nothing she can ever steer in the world not even in her own microcosm and although the name Cosima means “order in the cosmos” [p. 13], she feels that she “must have sensed the lack of cosmic order in (her) future” [p. 13]. When she grew up in Grace, Codi felt “unfit to live” [p. 184], also in present she has “no more mission in life than I´d been born with [p. 28].
She believes she is born as the bad part of the two sisters. The one who goes hand in hand with death. When Codi once looks at the plants before her front step, she thinks they are “right down to death´s door, but water always brought them back” [p. 89], whereas she “could only wish for such resilience” [p. 89] to escape death. In opposition to her fate as being the death angel, her sister Hallie has got the gift to protect life because she knows how to grow plants and how to help people in emergencies.
Summary of Chapters
I. Introduction: This chapter establishes the core argument that Codi Noline’s life is defined by a deep-seated connection to death and examines how this defines her initial lack of agency.
II. Specification: This section breaks down the five critical phases of Codi's development, including her childhood trauma, the miscarriage, her return to Grace, her complex romantic life, and the eventual impact of her sister’s death.
III. Concluding remark: The conclusion synthesizes the symbolic imagery of the mountain and the "Day of All Souls," arguing that Codi successfully integrates her traumatic past into a new, hopeful identity.
IV. Bibliography: A listing of secondary literature providing context on number symbolism and dictionaries used for the analysis.
Keywords
Animal Dreams, Barbara Kingsolver, Codi Noline, Death, Grace, Psychological Development, Trauma, Symbolism, Religious Leitmotifs, Identity, Family, Resurrection, Transformation, Literature Analysis, American Fiction
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this paper?
The paper focuses on the character development of Codi Noline in Barbara Kingsolver's "Animal Dreams," specifically investigating how her changing perception of death influences her path toward psychological healing.
What are the core themes explored in this work?
Central themes include the impact of childhood trauma, the search for home and belonging, the dichotomy between life and death, and the role of family dynamics in shaping identity.
What is the central research question?
The research seeks to answer how death, which initially serves as an unmovable burden in Codi's life, transforms into a catalyst for her personal renewal and acceptance of her origins.
Which scientific methods are employed?
The author uses a literary analysis approach, focusing on character mapping, thematic interpretation, and symbolic decoding, particularly regarding religious and numerological leitmotifs.
What content is addressed in the main body?
The main body investigates the five major phases of Codi’s life, explores the symbolic weight of her hometown, and analyzes how religious imagery helps the protagonist move from darkness into the light.
Which keywords best describe the paper?
The key descriptors are Codi Noline, trauma, identity, transformation, death, Grace, symbolism, and psychological growth.
How does the author interpret the name "Cosima"?
The author notes that while "Cosima" means "order in the cosmos," Codi initially feels a lack of such order in her life, reflecting her internal struggle and misalignment with her environment.
What significance do the "seven coyote pups" hold?
The number seven is used as a symbol of perfection and completeness; Codi’s failure to save all seven pups represents her struggle with her own unrealistic standards and her inability to accept death as a natural process.
Why is the "Day of All Souls" important for Codi?
It represents the climax of her journey, where she finally reconciles with her heritage, recognizes her belonging in Grace, and transitions into a state of "grace" and emotional clarity.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Thorsten Klein (Autor:in), 2000, "Out of the Dark into the Light" - The changing attitude of Cosima Noline towards death alters her life, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/62418
