After my discussion with Professor Dolson yesterday, I have gained a clearer understanding of the proper approach to character analysis. It involves formulating a thesis to unify the analysis and utilizing evidence from the article to support these insights. In the past, I mistakenly perceived literary analysis as a process of simply presenting events in chronological order to demonstrate my understanding of the entire article. However, I now recognize that establishing a central idea and weaving the analysis around this idea with evidence as the foundation is a far more effective approach to character analysis.

Yesterday, I chose to focus on analyzing Dean as a character, specifically exploring how Dean establishes his sense of “self-worth.” This examination involves delving into Dean’s elusive and undefined “big dream,” as well as the paradoxical nature of his life and his challenging family background, marked by a lack of love. Through this lens, it becomes evident that Dean’s ultimate desire is to find a sense of belonging and recognition among the people in his life. He employs the concept of the “Big Dream” as a means of self-sabotage, as he seeks to uncover his true identity within the context of his family.