The Cay by Theodore Taylor Book Review

The Cay written by Theodore Taylor was published in 1969. Timothy and Phillip’s boat was torpedoed on the way to America. Phillip became blind, but Phillip was mentally blind towards Timothy at the start of the book. Being blind made Phillip change his outlook on Timothy and not judge a book by its cover. Timothy has left a lasting impact on Phillip’s life, he will remember him forever. Through his mother, the words spoken badly towards black people have birthed into Phillip’s vocabulary and mind. 

When Phillip first met Timothy, he described him as ugly, his nose was flat and his face was broad, he described him like that because of his mothers’ words and the way she describes black people “ they are different”.  When you first meet people our mind may instantly judge a person. Now Phillip has learnt through his experiences on The Cay never to judge someone before getting to know them. Being blind you don’t see how someone looks, it is the way they act. 

Timothy was looking after Phillip, teaching him many things about survival like fishing, building, and navigating while being blind. Once Timothy was gone Phillip had to survive all on his own. But with the skills and help of Timothy, it created a sense of relief because Phillip knew how to fish by having a whole created in the sand that small fish and lobsters lived in. He knows how to navigate around the island by feel. 

Phillip will remember Timothy because he saved his life. Timothy sacrificed his own life to save Phillip from the hurricane in the Devil's Mouth. By Timothy saving Phillip during the storm, Phillip got the chance to be rescued off the Devil's Mouth by two American men. I think this act of kindness that Timothy showed tied the whole story together. Phillip now knows we are all the same no matter who you are.

In conclusion, Timothy has left a lasting impact on Phillips life because, 

Changed his perspective on black people, not judging someone before getting to know them and his mother’s words about black people were all false.

Survival Skills whilst being blind.

He saved his life by covering him in the Hurricane. 

With all of these stated above, this is why I think Timothy would have left an impact on Phillips' life. Even though at the start of the story everyone expected Phillip and Timothy to have a poor relationship in the end the opposite happened as shown in the book. This story is an important book people need to read these days; the world has changed so much since then. It will give you perspective on how people of colour were treated and how far we have come.