Cole Character Analysis in Touching Spirit Bear (Book Analysis)

In the book, Touching Spirit Bear, Cole experiences many kinds of conflict that cause him to change his insight, his understanding, and his values. The change in Cole’s character makes him someone we learn from and makes him engaging. Cole’s character is a dynamic character because he undergoes a lot of changes throughout the book.A static  character who undergoes little or no inner change; a character who does not grow or develop.  A dynamic character is a person who undergoes a lot of changes throughout the book.

In the beginning of the story, Cole’s character is a bully because he tries to pick fights.On page.16 he says “you're a dead man”.He warned Peter shoving him.He also started smashing his head against the sidewalk.Peter was bleeding and Cole spit at him. In Chapter 1 a  little after Cole was sentenced to the island by Circle justice,Cole was riding on the skiff to the island and spit in the wind to catch the spit drag across Edwins shirt.

Cole demonstrates a change when he was mauled by the bear,He saw the birds wanting food from the mom that cared about them then Cole felt a change ,but the storm knocked down a tree with baby spearows.They were trying to get food but they died from falling.After Cole saw the baby sparrows dead then he decided that they didn't deserve to die and he wanted to live and that he wanted to change for the better.

Cole now has shown that he is mature because he thinks before he acts and makes better decisions.It is clearer as you read the story that Cole changes when he says “Carving a totem isn't a competition”. This shows that he is mature because the old him was all about competition and how he was thinking he was the best.He wants Peter to understand he's not competing with him.Another piece of text evidence is found on 321 where it states that Cole says “I could beat you up right now but i won't”.This proves that Cole has changed because he would beat Peter up again in a heartbeat if he hadn't wanted to change.Cole is no longer a bully.

In conclusion, the change Cole’s character has made in this book has made the book more entertaining because he is a dynamic character. He wanted to change because he didn't want to go to jail and to be a better person.Cole wanted to respect and  help Peter for what he did and he felt bad.After Peter tried to commit suicide twice.Cole had the idea to have him come out to the island.Cole had things that could help Peter heal also for him to trust him again.Cole wishsed that they could actually be friends understanding that Peter might not want to be his friend.Peter can heal and trust Cole.Cole’s character has changed from a bully to a mature person.