Blog Post #2

Isolation is something that can have an immense psychological effect on someone, expecially at an early age. Ren has been brought up in an orphanage for all of his life, and he has basically no idea of what the world is like outside of its walls.The odd berry picking trips in the summer are the only exceptions, and even then he does not venture more than a few miles from his dismal home. When he is taken up for adoption by a mysterious man, they waste no time in starting off on their travels, because that man is a wanderer. After arriving in a port town and seeing the ocean, Tinti describes Ren's fascination as, "The sun reflected off the water, and Ren lifted his hand to shield his eyes. He had never seen the ocean before, and not it laid itself out before him, the waves rippling together in patterns of light, spreading out toward the horizon, a giant rolling creature of openness and space" (Tinti 55). It is obvious that Ren is overwhelmed with emotion, witnessing such an amazing thing that we all take for granted. The reader now feels sorry for Ren and the orphanage boys who will never get to experience this. Benjamin later takes him to a mysterious house, where we meet Tom, Benjamin's "partner in crime". Ren listens to a conversation they are having and is intimidated by the older men. We see Ren's powerlessness when Tinti writes, "'Do you actually believe this' Tom said at last. 'No,' Ren said, although he did. Tom turned the book over and ran his palm across it. 'Could be worth something.' 'I don't want to sell it.' 'That's not for you to decide'" (Tinti 58). The book of saints is Ren's most valued possession, and he is powerless to stop anyone from taking it. He has no sense of self-esteem because he has been cooped up in an orphanage all of his life.

As Ren ventures out in to the harsh, cruel, world, we see just how much power and influence he has, absolutely none. Although not much different in today's world, a 12 year old in the 19th century who came from a weak background does not know how to stand up for himself. You can learn in the front cover of the book that Benjamin will eventually train Ren as a thief, but when those two went to a bookshop to sell a possession of Ren's, something more interesting is revealed about his character. Benjamin barters with the bookseller and finds out that "The lives of the saints" is not worth much at all. But some money is better than no money, so he sells the book. Ren is outraged inside, wanting the book back but knowing that there is no possible way that he can get it back. In a deceiving act, Ren "accidentally" knocks over a huge bookshelf, and in the confusion, he is able to swipe a book off of the shelf. This act of stealing is surprising because he was raised in a Catholic orphanage, but at the same time is not because of our perception that all less fortunate young boys will turn to the dark side of life.