The changing effects of one as told in Children on their Birthdays by Truman Capote, Book


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The changing effects of one as told in Children on their Birthdays by Truman Capote

The changing effects of one as told in Children on their Birthdays by Truman Capote The Changing Effects of One as told in “Children on Their Birthdays” In Truman Capote’s “Children on Their Birthdays,” the reader is allowed to see the ability one person has to effect a community. Through the character of Miss Bobbit, Capote shows all of the different effects, both positive and negative, that a young girl was able to have on an entire town. Through the effects of Miss Bobbit, the reader sees how a small shakeup in what is expected to be normal can benefit something for the better. From the offset of the story the characters lives were shown to be normal and boring. Capote’s description of life before Miss Bobbit allows the reader to see how simple and boring the lives of the characters were. “Anyway we were sitting on the porch, tutti-frutti melting on our plates, when suddenly, just as we were wishing that something would happen, something did.” (184). The characters need for excitement and change is once again shown when Miss Bobbit arrives, and the young boys on the porch react to her arrival. “But Billy Bob and all the other boys, none of whom was over thirteen, followed down to the gate after us. From their faces you would have thought they’d never seen a girl before.” (184,185). The boys desire to see the girl further shows their desperate need for something to change their way of life. Change due to Miss Bobbit becomes most apparent in the characters of Billy Bob and Preacher Star. The idea of something different started a rivalry that would lead to the eventual downfall of a friendship. The first sign of change in the two is shown in the scene where Billy Bob picks the roses. “She’s so cute, he whispered, she’s the cutest *censored*ens I ever saw, gee, to hell with it, I don’t care, I’d pick all the roses in China.” (187). Billy Bob’s total disregard for his mother’s prize roses shows a definite change. Through the reactions of Bill Bob and his mother, it becomes clear to the reader that this was not an act that Billy Bob would have committed before the arrival of Miss Bobbit. Preacher’s changing is also shown in the scene with the roses. “Preacher would have picked all the roses in China too. He was as crazy about her as Billy Bob.” (187, 188). The two boys that were once viewed as the “tough” youngsters of the town were quickly becoming softhearted lovers in an attempt to win Miss Bobbit’s heart. Yet it was not until later that the reader was able to see the real effect she had on the boys. Through their infatuation with Miss Bobbit, the boys had gained a jealousy for one another. The jealousy reached its peak when the boy’s competition resulted in a fight. “That’s a damn lie, said Billy Bob, and with a clean left hook he knocked him off the Sawyer porch and jumped after him into a bed of nasturtiums.” (191). Miss Bobbit’s effect on the boys turned out to be a very negative an effect, an effect that led to a temporary demise of their friendship. Not all of Miss Bobbit’s work was negative. Through her efforts with Rosalba Cat, Miss Bobbit forces the entire town to change their hatred for things they do not understand into an acceptance. The town’s insecurities of things that were different would quickly change at the sight of a white girl befriending a black girl. Changes in the mindset of the townspeople were vividly drawn through the character of Mrs. Sawyer. “She told Aunt El that it went against the grain to have a nigger lolling smack there in sight of her porch.” (188). Mrs. Sawyer shows her hatred and unwillingness to accept what is different. The changing of Mrs. Sawyer, as well as the rest of the townspeople, is shown in the story. “But Miss Bobbit had a certain magic, whatever she did she did it with a completeness, and so directly, so solemnly, that there was nothing to do but accept it. (188,189). Miss Bobbit’s assertiveness in all situations cause the townspeople to accept what was different, perhaps for a lack of reason not to. Miss Bobbit’s befriending of sister Rosalba also causes Billy Bob to change how he thinks. His once single-minded evilness turns into a respect that is equal to that of the respect that he held for Miss Bobbit. “She and Sister Rosalba treated him like a man; that is to say, they allowed him to do everything for them.” (191,192). Billy Bob learned to show Sister Rosalba respect, and like the rest of the community, learned to see the person in Rosalba and not the skin color. He learned how to accept her and view her as an equal. Through his acceptance, Billy Bob learned to treat Sister Rosalba the same way that he treated Miss Bobbit. Another significant change in the story was when Manny Fox made his appearance. With the introduction of Manny fox and the events that would follow, the entire community began to admit that Miss Bobbit was special. “Aunt El said afterwards that it was one of the most gorgeous things she’d ever seen on the American stage.” (194). Up until this point in the story, Aunt El would have dismissed the event and said that she was far too young to act that way. Yet like the rest of the community, Aunt El’s way of thinking had changed thanks to Miss Bobbit. Through all of the changing, the members of the town had begun to be able to admit that Miss Bobbit was a special person that had really made an impact on their lives. In the short story “Children on Their Birthdays,” a young girl effects the lives of an entire community. She helps to make the people of the community to accept what they once had turned away, and forced them to think and act differently than they once had. The effect of Miss Bobbit shows to be strong, and allows the reader to see how a change in what is “normal” can benefit things for the better. Bibliography:

Word Count: 1028