The reader sees how the sibling rivalry manifests itself when Lucy was telling her other siblings, Peter and Susan, that Narnia was a real place and that Edmund had been there. Edmund initially discredits Lucy because he doesn't want her to be the center of attention. “Oh yes, Lucy and I have been playing—pretending that all her story about a country in the wardrobe is true. Just for fun, ofcourse. There’s nothing there really.” (The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe,48). Once all the siblings enter Narnia through the wardrobe, Peter immediately apologizes to Lucy for doubting her. Edmund refuses to apologize. 

The reader notices tension between Lucy and her brother Edmund, when he tries to make his sister seem untrustworthy. The readers recognize the difference between Edmund and Lucy when the Witch tries to convince him to bring his siblings to her castle. This shows that unlike Lucy, Edmund was more interested in power and accepting the Turkish delights as a bribe to be the King of Narnia. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-BnixSg63k 

There are many moments in the book when Aslan is shown as being very similar to Jesus Christ. As Lucy and Susan were mourning the death of Aslan, they noticed the stone tablet, on which he was laying, had been cracked. Aslan was standing behind them shining in the sunrise. Lucy screamed in excitement, “Oh, you’re real, you’re real! Oh, Aslan!”. (The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, 178). This moment related very much to the Gospel description of Christ’s resurrection on Easter Sunday when the apostles encountered the Risen Lord.

This video describes the similarities in the book between Aslan and Jesus Christ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRGcnmwLsmQ 00:00-2:49. 

In the book, we see Lucy and Susan as gentle, maternal figures to their brothers and everyone in Narnia. They are representing most women of the time. They are not overly assertive in the pursuit of taking back Narnia from the Witch, almost as if their brothers are superior. On the other hand, the Witch is devious, deceitful and terrifying. She is seen as the opposite of Susan and Lucy. She has no moral compass and has no concern for life. When the Witch sets off to find the children, she comes across a party of animals and they are indulging themselves with fine food and drink. The Witch gets mad and says “What is the meaning of this gluttony, this waste, this self-indulgence?” (The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, 126). The Witch waved her wand and turned them all into stone statues. She is willing to do anything to remain the Queen of Narnia. These two personality traits were the two boxes that females were put into at the time this book was written. 

Wonka is eccentric but he is also arrogant. He doesn't like the behaviors of the children because he needs to control them and they're not doing exactly what he says. In response to their behaviors, he punishes them. Another example of his evil ways is how Mr. Wonka is hypocritical. He criticizes the children but behaves very superficially himself. He laughs his head off or acts like it's not a big deal when something bad happens to the children. After Augustus falls into the chocolate river and goes up the pipe, Mrs. Gloop says, “Just look at him! He’s laughing his head off! How dare you laugh like that when my boy’s just gone up the pipe! You monster!” (page 75). These qualities of Mr. Wonka compare to the Devil. 

Dahl did this to contrast the richness of the Chocolate Factory and to make it seem like Charlie was really lucky to be pulled out of poverty. Charlie was tortured by the difference between his life and the enormous Chocolate Factory within sight of his house. It was a   “tremendous, marvelous place.” (page 7) This opportunity to find a Golden Ticket puts pressure on Charlie to save his family from poverty.

Some critics have said that the author’s portrayal of Alice was because he was unhappy with the way young girls were being educated in Victorian England. Upper class children were taught by tutors, and most lower class children didn't even go to school. Education during this time was not a very practical way to succeed in the world. As the story progresses, Alice needs to become smarter in her surroundings and does this by thinking on her feet and asking for help from the creatures when she needs it. Eventually, Alice becomes self confident and finds her voice in Wonderland.

Alice is a guest at a tea party with the Hatter, the March Hare and the little door mouse who sleeps most of the time. During the tea party, the creatures are continuously asking Alice questions and riddles, although manners were considered very important at tea parties. Alice finally has enough and decides to leave saying, “It’s the stupidest tea-party I ever was at in all my life!” (page 82).  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ma4DKSXNVAE 

Alice is amazed and comforted by the Cheshire Cat. While talking to the Cat in the tree, the Cat starts to slowly vanish, beginning at his tail. Eventually all that was left was his grin. “ ‘Well! I’ve often seen a cat without a grin,’ thought Alice; ‘but a grin without a cat! It's the most curious thing I ever saw in all my life!’ ” (page 69)

The story of Hollis Woods can be an inspiration to other foster children. They are able to relate to her longing for a family and they can dream of the happy ending that Hollis had. Hollis had to overcome many obstacles in her search for a family. The readers see that she matured when she had to take care of Josie. Most foster children need to grow up fast and mature because they have to take care of themselves, much like Hollis. Also, when Hollis finds the Regans, she has to work to earn their love. Other foster children can be encouraged to work hard to find happiness. However, the reality is that most foster children will grow up and out of the foster care system without ever having a permanent home. 

Attached below is a link to statistics regarding foster children in the United States 

Hollis is put in a predicament about Josie. She thinks, “I couldn't leave Josie. I couldn’t stay. It was a puzzle.” (page 74). Hollis makes a daring plan to run away again, but this time, she brings Josie with her. She can’t leave Josie but she knows she can't stay. At this point, Hollis becomes the adult and the protector of Josie who is becoming more child-like. This is a very heavy responsibility for a young girl to take on. Alzheimer’s and Dementia are becoming more prevalent every year in the United States. Many children and care-givers of these people find themselves unable to care for their loved ones. How can Hollis be expected to take care of Josie?

As the story progresses, the reader learns about Hollis’s close connection with the Regan family and the house in Branches. She spent the summer there with them and she now connects happinesses with that place. When she decides to run away with Josie, that is the refuge that she seeks. Perhaps Hollis thinks that everything will work out when she gets to Branches. But then, the readers learn about the reality of both Hollis’s summer at Branches and the reality of what it would take to care for Josie alone there in the Winter.

This is not always what happens in reality. Many people are ostracized and family members will not be accepted. Perhaps this book is encouraging but is also unrealistic for many people going through the same experience. With a good support system including family and friends people feel more comfortable to share their true identity with the people they love. As Simon’s mother says, “We’re proud of you.” (page 164)

After Simon tells everyone how much he has changed and reveals his secret, the reader sees how much Simon is more accepting of everyone else’s evolving as they grow. For example, Abby and Nick become a couple and Simon is supportive of their relationship. Another example is Leah. When Simon finds out that Leah is in a band with his sister, he is very supportive and enthusiastic about this new activity she's a part of. This shows character development in Simon and how he is maturing.

Simon’s sexual identity is his own business. He needs to find a way to reveal it and explain it to his family and friends but instead he is pushed out by Martin before he is ready. In the end, Simon is able to be his true self even after everything has happened. He realizes that the love of his family and friends do not change just because he is gay.

In the link below, is this powerful scene in the movie.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wD5Ut1yQ-4E 

Rowdy and Junior are very similar in some ways but Junior is self-directed. Despite both of them having poor family lives, Junior’s parents show up for him at his games and support his choice to go to Reardan. In comparison, Rowdy’s family seems absent. At the end of the novel, when Rowdy and Junior seem to be reconciling, there is a hint that maybe Rowdy too will attend Reardan next year. Maybe all Rowdy needs is Junior’s support for him to be successful.

Junior has to reconcile these two lives, which means his education and his reservation. Can he have two lives that everyone supports? He knows it was important to leave the reservation because if he waited he may never actually go. Junior knows that his life will have more choices, such as attending college, if he keeps attending Reardan. Life on the reservation can be a dead end for his big dreams.

When Penelope asks Junior if he was poor and he say yes, he doesn’t know what is going to happen. “I figured she was going to march out of my life right then. But she didn’t. Instead she kissed me. On the cheek. I guess poor guys don’t get kissed on the lips. I was going to yell at her for being shallow. But then I realized that she was being my friend.” (page 127) In fact, Junior’s other friend Roger becomes an even more supportive friend when he finds out about Junior’s poverty. Junior also learns from Reardan that not only poor people have problems. Despite Gordy being so smart, he isn’t very well liked and Penelope, despite being so pretty, suffers from bulimia. These instances make Junior realize that problems aren't just on the reservation. This concept makes Junior feel more understanding