Tom Brennan Symbolism

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How would you cope if you were put into a situation where your life turns upside down, due to the consequences of somebody else? This is a common issue in the too texts, ‘the story of Tom Brennan’ and also the film, ’witness’ have experienced this before. But due to this they have been able to move on into the world once again stronger than they ever have been Into the world explores the aspects of growth, transition and a broader world. Through personal experiences, people are able to learn, grow or change as an individual. Barriers and obstacles determine how an individual can change or grow by responding to the situation. Going into the World can be a difficult and a daunting time which everyone can find hard to overcome. Going into the…show more content…
‘The ascent’ is a “mountain” or hill in the town where Tom lives, this is something that Tom can not climb or overcome, he makes it to the top but he doesn’t do it easily. The hill reflects the feelings and emotion throughout the story as the hill is a steep emotional struggle. Characters in the book note the hill as “all the way to heaven”, “a mountain”. The symbolism behind heaven shows the character has to reach the top of his emotional struggle to be truly happy and ‘united with God’. Towards the end of the Novel Tom reaches the top of the ascent “without even realising”. This shows the natural progress Tom has made throughout the novel to overcome the horrors that have been in his life. He has reached the top of the mountain, the top of his emotional struggle. All he has to do is take the easy run down the slope. Reference to mountains is also used as Tom and Brendan are taking a trip to the tallest mountain in the world, showing that Tom now has the ability to emotionally cope with all struggles in life ready to overcome the large mountain in life, Mount Everest. Burke shows that moving into the world can lead to new experiences through the emotional ride Tom had and overcame. He moves on with his life into new and better experiences. This transition is described by J.C.Burke in descriptive language, dialogue,…show more content…
It can be difficult and everyone deals with it differently. The Story of Tom Brennan’ written by J.C Burke, and the film ‘witness’, all show that relationships with people can assist one’s journey of going into the World, and also how people deal with obstacles differently and that maturity brings great rewards. Also in the film ‘Witness’ and ‘the story of Tom Brennan’, they both experience a change for a greater and better future so they can forget their past and be able to move into the world as a different person. Book understands the meaning of forming close relationships and taking time off police work to experience the little pleasures of completing his own activities to create a perfect balance to change his identity for a brighter lifestyle in the future whereas Tom experiences similar realizations to Book as he also discovers that there is hope for a better future through his mates, rugby, trip to Nepal with Brendan and his supportive girlfriend Chrissie that will help Tom recreate the identity lost before the accident so that he too can look forward to a brighter future and forget his past and be able to move into the world once
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