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Seabiscuit Persuasive Essay

Decent Essays

Certain novels and other works of literature often have hidden metaphors. Hillenbrand’s Seabiscuit is a metaphor for America. The theme of overcoming obstacles and regaining hope is prominent. Many of the characters in the novel regain hope and overcome adversity, and so did America after the Great Depression. One way we see the topic of regaining hope and overcoming adversity in the novel is with Charles Howard. He loses his son Frankie and his marriage deteriorates. His life becomes remarkably unstable. He begins visiting Tijuana and purchasing racehorses. He marries again and meets Red Pollard, and takes him in as his own son. Pollard perhaps binds the wound left by the death of Howard’s son. Howard purchases a stable with his wife Marcela in 1935 and becomes a skilled horseman. Hillenbrand writes, “That Summer, he and Marcela bought fifteen yearlings at a Saratoga, New York auction. In keeping with his love of lost causes, Howard bought only the worst-looking animals at the sale, animals who lingered in the ring, attracting few, if any bids” (17). Howard is such a skilled horseman that he recognizes potential when he sees it and buys only unpromising horses to train. Just as America was once hopeless during the Great Depression, so was Howard. Yet the two overcame adversity and pulled out of the struggle, becoming stronger than they were before. An additional example of regaining hope is with Red Pollard. Pollard grows up wealthy, but loses all fortune when a flood

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