The Good Thief: Post 1

This quarter, I decided to read "The Good Thief" by Hannah Tinti. People often think of orphanages as dirty, rejectful, terrible places. And they are. In the novel I am reading, the central characer, Ren, was placed on the doorstep of an orphanage at a very early age. This book is set in the 19th century in New England, the orphanage run by Catholic priests. Tinti describes the orphanage as a wine making place packed with boys between the ages of toddler and teenager. It is the prototype church run orphanage, with strict discipline and gruel for meals. When talking about the discipline, Tinti says, "The whipping stool had held Ren's weight and the weight of many other boys over the years. Ren remembered the first time he had taken his place across it. Now there were even more scratches in the wood. It seemed close to falling apart. 'Who hit you?' The first strike was always a shock. The boy tried not to move as it seared into his skin" (Tinti 21). It is a sad thing that the brothers of the orphanage had to result to punishment like this, but there was no other way that they could punish every boy in the orphanage. The boys who were brought here were essentially rejected by society, and when they are treated like this it starts a downward spiral of a low quality of life. These situations can lead to great desperateness, as shown when every boy is fighting over a newly adopted kid's wishing stone, when Tinti exclaims, "Ren tried to kick them off, biting and scratching, but he knew in his hear that he was going to lose, and he felt the stone slip out of his hand. 'I want to wish for an arrowhead', said Itchy. 'That's not good enough' said Brom. 'For candy, then'. 'For Father John to break his neck'. 'For toys!' Ren listened to his friends. He had never hated anyone more" (Tinti 17-18). This example shows how crazy boys got over one little stone, a stone they thought had the power to get them out of that horrible place, it shows how much someone will do to get out of bad circumstances.

Every so often, a stranger would come to the orphanage to look for a boy. This was a very big deal, for the brothers and the kids, because the load of kids would lighten and one lucky child would be given a new family. Ren doesn't have as good of a chance, though, because he is missing a hand. Tinti describes the choosing process as, "Underneath Saint Anthony's statue the younger boys fidgeted and pushed, the older ones cleared their throats nervously. Brother Joseph walked down the line and straightened their faces, bumping his large stomach into the children who had fallen out of place..."I want a boy," said the farmer. Old enough to help me work and young enough for my wife to feel she has a child. Do you think you could do that?" Father John came up behind them. "You don't want that one." The farmer stepped back. He looked confused, then angry. "Why not?" Father John pointed at Ren's arm. "Show him" (Tinti 8-9). This process was very disheartening for a ton of the kids, the ones who were passed over. When you live in an orphanage, this is your only hope of a great life, and to see your dreams crushed is a hard thing to bear. It is worse though, if you are like ren. Tinti describes his feelings well when she writes, "The farmer tried not to react, but Ren could see the disgust hidden in his face as he turned away and moved down the line. Ren watched as he lifted his new son into the wagon. "What happens to the ones no one takes?" "They are conscripted," said Father John, "into the army." "Not an easy life" "It's the will of God," said Father John. "We do not question his ways." "I do" (Tinti 9-10). Every forgotten child's only wish is to have someone who will really love them. If they are not chosen before adulthood, their fate is sealed to a life of service. When those random farmers are walking down the line, gazing at every hopeful face, they don't know how much of an impact it makes when they pass someone by.