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.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- The main thesis: Death determines the life of Cosima Noline and finally changes it
- Specification
- The life of Cosima Noline
- The relationship to Cosima's hometown Grace
- Religious leitmotifs that determine her past and Future life
- The change in her life- from the old Codi to a new Codi
- Concluding remark
- Death as a companion of Cosima Noline
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This work examines the life of Cosima Noline, the main character in Barbara Kingsolver's novel "Animal Dreams," focusing on the impact of death on her life and the transformative process she undergoes. The analysis delves into the various phases of Cosima's life, exploring her childhood, her miscarriage, her relationship with her hometown, and the religious themes that influence her journey.
- The role of death in shaping Cosima Noline's life and worldview.
- The influence of Cosima's childhood experiences and the loss of her mother.
- The impact of the miscarriage on Cosima's sense of self and her place in the world.
- The relationship between Cosima and her hometown Grace, including the environmental challenges and the influence of religious beliefs.
- The transformative journey Cosima embarks on, leading to a new understanding of life and her connection to the natural world.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The introduction establishes the central thesis of the work, highlighting the profound influence of death on Cosima Noline's life and how it ultimately leads to a significant transformation. It introduces Cosima's denial of change and her perception of herself as the "bad part" of her family, intertwined with death and lacking resilience. This is contrasted with her sister Hallie, who embodies a positive outlook and a connection to life through her ability to nurture and heal. The chapter emphasizes the constant presence of death in Cosima's life, from the loss of her mother to her own miscarriage and the environmental threat to Grace.
The "Specification" section delves deeper into Cosima's life, focusing on five key phases: her childhood, the miscarriage, saving a baby's life, the discovery of the dead river, and the death of Hallie. Each phase is examined in detail, revealing how Cosima's relationship with death shapes her experiences and ultimately brings about a change in her perspective.
The chapter on Cosima's childhood explores the impact of her mother's death on her emotional development and the enduring feeling of being "robbed of love." Her sister Hallie's resilience in the face of loss stands in contrast, highlighting the differing ways the two sisters navigate grief. The chapter also examines the incident with the helicopter, revealing a pivotal moment that has shaped Cosima's view of her mother's death and her own childhood.
The chapter on the miscarriage explores the emotional and psychological impact of this event on Cosima. It examines the sense of isolation and shame she experienced, her decision to bury the baby in the river, and the long-lasting impact on her perception of her own life and her place in the world. This is contrasted with the act of saving a baby's life later in her life, highlighting her potential for both connection and vulnerability.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This work focuses on the themes of death, transformation, and the relationship between humans and the natural world. It examines the impact of loss and grief, the influence of family and community, and the search for meaning in the face of adversity. Key concepts include religious leitmotifs, the concept of resilience, and the transformative power of nature.
- Citation du texte
- Thorsten Klein (Auteur), 2000, "Out of the Dark into the Light" - The changing attitude of Cosima Noline towards death alters her life, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/62418
