Part 1 of Essay
The title is not that important to the novel, but it does aid in understanding one of the book's main themes, that the quality of life is very important. Homer Macauley: This responsible young man has become the man of the house by supporting his family with an after school job. But with this job comes responsibility and ....

Part 2 of Essay
.... The novel ends with his death. Mary and Bess: These two radiant girls symbolize hope. Throughout the entire novel they are waiting for Marcus to return. Major Conflict: The major conflict is with Homer learning to deal with his problems and to gain a new understanding about life. Setting: The setting is in Ithaca, California, during World War II. Point of View: The point of view is third person omniscient. Themes: The quality of life is very important. The effects of death can be good and ba ....