The Compound #5. S.A. Bodeen. Pages 193-245.

Throughout my recent reading, I’ve learned so much about the father, Rex and the main character, Eli. Pages 193 to 245 show a great amount of character development between both characters. Also in my last reading, Rex’s actions really show his true self as a madman. For example, Eli was in his father’s lab looking for the code to get out of the Compound. When he found it, Rex came into the lab and just started destroying Bunsen burners, test tubes, test tube racks and even an expensive microscope while he was shouting at the top of his lungs. He had been complaining about how his family had turned on him. In my opinion, I really disagree with how his family turned on him and how he was “Fine as anyone can be when HIS WIFE IS TRYING TO POISON HIM!” (208) Ever since he stated the reason of locking up part of his family so they wouldn’t become spoiled brats, I’ve always thought of him as himself turning the family upon him. I’m really surprised how Eli didn’t try and defend his family and stick up for them. This also shows how Eli is respectful to his parents but also a coward; which was different from before when he was always being mean to everybody around him. Another example of character development and how his actions showed his true self was the fact that he held a child hostage and threatened to kill him. “What do you think, Eli? Should I choke the life out of him? Or just snap his neck. That would be quicker.” (211) In this scenario, he had to decide between the child, Lucas, and if he were to live or not and the code to the entrance of the Compound. This was the saddest thing I’ve ever read. A poor innocent child who has done nothing wrong to anybody was going to be murdered in such a cruel way. I was shocked that anybody could say and maybe even go through with such a horrible deed. Eli as a character also develops too. Before he entered the Compound, he only watched out for himself, and he was cruel to his friends and his family. Now, he was shouting at his father to let the child go and he became an unselfish young man after giving up the code. Those are a couple ways of how Rex and Eli developed as a character.