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Dills Encouragement

What if you have a chance to have a better life but there is several obstacle,

so will you give upIf you have the same obstacles with Dill, will you be able to

overcome it? The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner is about the lives of three teenagers

which are Dill, Lydia, and Travis. Dill is the boy who is renown as The Serpent Kings

grandchild. Lydia is the girl that was raised up in a warm family. Lastly, Travis is the

boy who likes to read books and is disappointed by his abusive dad. Dillard Early Jr.

is one of the main characters from the novel who is motivated by the religious family,

his familys debt and his crush, Lydia.

Dill is a son of the prisoner. His grandpa is known as The Serpent King. His

mother, Crystal Early, and also his father, Pastor Dillard Early Sr., is very crazy about

religious. Pastor says, Im living one day at a time, praise Jesus (Zentner, 2016,

p.24). Also, Crystal says, Ive seen Gods plan for you, and this is not it (Zentner,

2016, p.366). Furthermore, Crystal also once blames Dill for making Pastor in the

prison. Dill said that he hates visiting his father and this makes his mother says, You

hate him that way? Maybe you deserve to feel uncomfortable seeing as how you put

him there (Zentner, 2016, p.201). By these quotes, they are both extremely faith in

god. Crystal is sarcastic as she said that to Dill. She really believes that Dill is the

reason that makes Pastor get arrested. Dill once says, Im tired of this town. Do you

know what its like? To have his name? To wear the millstone around your neck?

The stares and whispers? The weight of this blood? (Zentner, 2016, p.142).

According to this quote, it really shows that Dill is suffered by the renown of his
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family. Not only the religious family that motivates Dill, but also other factors like

familys financial trouble.

Dill wants to escape the town and enters a college for a better life but the

obstacle is the debt of his family. His parents strongly disagree with this. Crystal

works really hard after Pastor was arrested. She thinks that going to a college is

wasting of money. Pastor also thinks that Dill should help his mother work instead of

attending a college. When Dill tells about the college stuff, his mother says, Oh

great, more debt. Thats what we need (Zentner, 2016, p.142). In addition, Pastor

says, Youre abandoning your mother (Zentner, 2016, p.362). According to these

quotes, Dills parents obviously disagree about attending a college of Dill. Crystal

think that it will raise their debt but she doesnt actually mean that it is what they

need; she is just sarcastic. Pastor means that if Dill goes to a college, his mother will

be left behind and need to handle their debt and works alone. Even though Dills

family does not support him; however, he still has another who supports him.

Lydia is one of the motivations of Dill. She has good intentions and thinks that

Dill deserves better. She convinces Dill about attending a college. She usually

cheers Dill up when he is depressed. Furthermore, Dill almost gives up on going to a

college several times. However, Lydia helps Dill to figure out the way to pass through

this. Lydia says First of all, a college is good. You learn how to function in the very

big world outside Forrestville and you set yourself up better for life. College grads

make way more money. Millions more over their lifetime (Zentner, 2016, p.77). By

this quote, Lydia convinces Dill by providing advantages of entering a college.

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However, Dill says that he cant go to a college because of his financial problem;

Lydia says, Youll be of more financial help to your family further down the road with

a college degree (Zentner, 2016, p.79). This shows that Lydia tries to figure out the

way that would make Dill enter a college. Lydia once says, Thats all Ive ever

wanted for you-that you be happy and live the life you want to live (Zentner, 2016,

p.244). According to the quote, Lydia says obviously that she wants Dill to be happy.

This shows that she is the one who really means well to Dill.

In conclusion, Dill is driven by his religious family, his financial problem, and

his crush named Lydia. The character Dill is disappointed by the fame of his family.

His parents dont allow him to enter a college as a result of having debt. However, he

has a supporter, Lydia, who stands by his side and assists in several things. Even

though some of the factors are not precious, however, most of them could bring you

to a goal. If you have the same obstacles as Dill, will you be able to overcome it?