Experience of dead effect the behavior By Prim Patsatorn

Yordchaiyapruk

Experience of dead effect the

behavior
One of the most amazing things in humans brain is that it has
an ability to adapt and alter itself by experience. This is because of
the function in the brain. Experience has a great impact on shaping
a persons attitude. Attitude of a person towards many things have
changed by experience each person has faced. As in the story
Trilobites, the behavior of each character in the story depends on
how each character experiences death in the past. Colly, his mother
and Ginny have different perspective of viewing life and death. This
causes them to have different decision and behavior.

To begin with, Pops death effect Collys thought. When Colly

look at the farm, his memories with Pop comes up into his head.
Everywhere Colly goes in the farm, he always talks to himself about
Pop. So, it can be clearly seen that Pops death has a great impact
on Collys decision. Moreover, it causes him to think back about the
past. According to Trilobites, I see Pops grave, and wonder if the
new high waters get over it Colly thought in his head (Pancake
2014, p.29). He wonders about his fathers grave when he goes by.
Even though, the death doesnt have any feeling anymore. In
addition, when his father died, it makes him to think of the moments
they shared together when Pop was alive. Additionally, he

Experience of dead effect the behavior By Prim Patsatorn

Yordchaiyapruk

remembers the moment he had with Pop accurately because Pop is

an important person in his life. For example, when he walks along
the farm, he often thinks of Pop and imagines Pops action when he
is alive. In the story, Colly thinks inside his head, Me and Pop built
this barn. I look every nail at the same dull pain (Pancake, 2014,
p.30). This could tell that the place he goes is a great reminder of
him about his father. Furthermore, when hes in the farm, he talks to
himself about Pop so often. In addition, he acts like his fathers soul
is following him everywhere he goes. He seems to get hurt when
these memories pop up into his mind, as he wants Pop to be with
him at this moment. Unlike his mother, his mother doesnt seem to
think about Pop as much as Colly do. She thinks more about the way
to deal with herself and Colly when Pop is not with her anymore.
Pops death makes her to look her present and future. So, she
begins to think about moving to Akron because she and Colly might
be happier if she moves to Akron to live with her family there.

Secondly, since the farm is hard to run by Colly and his

mother, Collys mother wants to sell the farm while Colly does not
want to sell the farm. As a result, Colly and his mother have a
disagreement about selling the farm. Colly cares about his fathers
farm and dont want to sell it even though its hard to run. To clarify,
Colly doesnt want his mother to sell the farm because it is a place
that Colly and his father have memorable memories together. He
wants to keep the farm and his memories about Pop. Furthermore, it

Experience of dead effect the behavior By Prim Patsatorn

Yordchaiyapruk

is the asset, which Pop left it to him and his mother. This farm is
valuable in terms of asset but it is more valuable to Colly in terms of
a place, which is fulfilled by memories. According to the Trilobites ,
Colly said, Momll probably sell it, too. I cant run the place like Pop
did(Pancake, 2014, P.27). Although, Colly realizes when he run the
farm, it didnt turn out to be good as when Pop ran it. However, he
wants to keep memories in this farm. Without Pop, Collys mother
realizes it would not be suitable for her and Colly to run the farm.
So, she thinks the better way is to move to Akron. Collys mother
tries to persuade Colly to go to Akron with her. She thinks Colly
would have a better life living in Akron and will have a work to do
there. The problem is, Colly and his mother didnt come to
understand in the same point. As in the beginning of the story, Colly
said, I was born in this country and I have never very much wanted
to leave(Pancake, 2014, P.26). By this, it could be implied that Colly
loves his hometown so much. Theres something he wants to do in
his hometown that would causes him not to leave. If he moves to
another town, he might not find it all his lifetime. Further, Colly gives
importance to his old memories about Pop and it is worth for him to
stay in place, which is full of memories.

Thirdly, Colly and Ginny have different point of view about

their relationship. In the story, the relationship between Colly and
Ginny is not strong due to the far distance they live. Further, when
they are far away, their relationship is not the same as before. Colly

Experience of dead effect the behavior By Prim Patsatorn

Yordchaiyapruk

wants to continue to have a relationship with Ginny because hes

still thinking of Ginny. As in the short story Trilobites, when Colly
looks along through the hill, he said, My first time with Ginny was in
the tree-cap of that hill(Pancake, 2014, Pg.30). It is clearly shown
that Colly is still missing Ginny and their memories together. He
thinks of the beautiful love when they first dating each other.
Moreover, it was a wonderful memory with Ginny for Colly. Colly
feels hurt about his unclear relationship with Ginny. It is hard for him
to keep his relationship when he knows that Ginny might already
have another man. On the other hand, Ginny doesnt feel hurt. She
has a relationship with another man and left Colly behind. The
reason that makes Colly and Ginny to have different view about
their relationship is because of their experience about death. Colly
has experience about his fathers death. As a result, it makes him to
realize how hard to accept himself from losing an important person
from his life. So, he might think that he couldnt lose Ginny like he
lost Pop in that day. In addition, Ginny never talked to her mother.
She might not understand how hurt it would be if she loses
important people like Colly because they have memorable
memories together. Apart from that, Colly wants to go with her while
Ginny does not want Colly to follow her. Connecting to The
Trilobites Colly said, Let me go with you Colly, please said
Ginny (Pancake, 2014, Pg.34). She wants to leave Colly behind and
continues having relationship with her current boyfriend. It hurts
Colly so much and it makes him to think about the old memories.

Experience of dead effect the behavior By Prim Patsatorn

Yordchaiyapruk

In conclusion, experiences of death have a great impact on

these characters decision and behavior. Colly, mother and Ginny
have different behavior according to the way they view death.
Although, these characters might have the same memories but the
perspective of each characters makes they view it in different way.
Moreover, difference behavior also depends on how much each
characters give importance to the memories in the past and ability
to accept changes to move on to the future.

References:
Pancake, B. (2014). Trilobites and other stories. London Vintage
Books.
Cherry, K. (2015). What Is Brain Plasticity? Retrieved from
http://psychology.about.com/od/biopsychology/f/brain-plasticity.htm
Kolb, B., Gibb, R., & Robinson, T. (n.d.). Brain Plasticity and Behavior.
Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience.
Farouk, R. (n.d.). How your past affects your present. Retrieved from
http://www.2knowmyself.com/how_your_past_affects_your_present