Similarly, Leslie’s parents think the same of her – for she is rather tomboyish in dressing and actions. His father even considers his drawing ability as a girl thing and doesn’t like it very much for him. Jesse is considered too girlish by his father – who wants him to be very masculine, hard, and stoic in all he does. Gender roles and expectations are in play in ‘ Bridge to Terabithia’, and the reader gets to see this in the life of Jesse and Leslie, at least. Jesse is doing something wrong by filling that void with sadness and angst, but after Leslie helps him discover himself, he knows better how to handle people and situations. Jesse comes at the center of this as readers see him struggle – at home, in school, among his peers – to be loved, appreciated, and cared for. ‘ Bridge to Terabithia’ is also a story of self-discovery and self-realization. Discovering friendship for these two wasn’t going to be an easy task – as both get off on a wrong footing before finding that common issue that they have and then agreeing to disagree then settling as friends to build their dreamland Terabithia. Jesse and Leslie discover friendship and all its benefits in their desire for wanting out of shared loneliness. This is perhaps the predominant theme of Katherine Paterson’s ‘ Bridge to Terabithia’. Leslie, in a milder way, feels the same – given that her parents, despite working from home, are focused on work stuff than the needs of their daughter. His father is swept away by work, and his mother, is too busy homemaking, nurturing the girls, and worrying about the pile of bills to be paid. He gets this way because he feels left alone with no one caring about what he wants and needs. From the plot, Jesse is sad and irritable to himself and towards the people around him his sisters, his parents, and fifth-grade teachers at Lark Creek Elementary school.
Leslie and especially Jesse are the two major characters the reader sees grappling with the issue of loneliness and needing attention.
Later in the book, other themes – including friendship and grief are introduced. ‘ Bridge to Terabithia’ first welcomes readers with the theme of loneliness as young Jesse is seen worried he doesn’t get the much-needed attention and love from his busy parents who are distracted by the responsibility of earning a living for a family of seven.
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