Throughout this novel, we see Alisonadjust from a child to a young and confident woman. What events bring about this change?

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Throughout this novel, we see Alison

adjust from a child to a young and confident woman.

What events bring about this change?

               

 

Introduction

There are many important phases in life, ranging from baby, to toddler, to schoolchild to high school and finally to an adult.  

Many regard puberty as the most important phase as it involves growing from a dependant child to a self-sufficient adult.  Growing up (maturing) is different in every individual.  In the novel ‘The Coal House’, we see Alison maturing from an insecure, complaining mischievous child to a young certain and sensitive young woman.  

People such as her vulnerable dad, the Sue woman, Tommy, and events such as the riot, moving up north the mishap with Sue, all collaborate to form the woman she is today.  

Every individual develops in to adulthood at different ages.  Much depends on their experiences in childhood.  Alison was compelled to mature quickly as a result of the death of her mother.  Instead of having a mother look after her, she was increasingly finding herself supporting her vulnerable father.

Middle

In the first few pages of this novel, we are given a very good description of Alison’s’ approaches to various situations. She’s very unambiguous about going through her life at her own pace and has an aversion to any abrupt changes to her daily routine, reflecting on the possibility that she’s insecure.

This is quite understandable if you take in account that her mother passed away a few months earlier and that Alison is still adjusting to the situation.

So obviously, her father’s altruistic attempt of moving up north to start a new life isn’t going to appeal to Alison very much. She makes this very clear, attempting childish behavior and excuses to provoke her family.

A good example is when her Gran shows her a picture of her future house with her future bedroom window circled and Alison replies,

” It isn’t an attic room, I told Dad I wouldn’t move unless I had an attic room”.  

This last bargaining line suggests the threatening tactics of an infant, which should not be expected from a thirteen year old, and Alison knew it. I presume Alison was only trying to appear superior and determined not to show all the anxiety and anguish she felt ever since her mother’s death. When arriving at her new town, she continued to resist her father’s desperate attempts of making the place welcome to her. In paradigm, her father picked out some interesting and beautiful scenery, for example he pointed out a small Cathedral. Alison however, remarked bluntly, “A good Cathedral, not a great Cathedral”. No matter how hard her father tried to be optimistic, she always put all his nice remarks down.

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When just leaving the train station, a very callous yet notable remark about her attitude towards this change was included in the conversation on the way home.

“This is the road out. We live about five miles away.”

“Not yet we don’t”.
“Oh Ally, come on.”
Her Dads attempt to start up a conversation is put down quickly with Allison’s reply.  Alison’s line could be called non-tactful.  A dead-end line, which, she knows will only lead to her dad getting annoyed, maybe to test his patients.  
She is very clear right from the beginning that she is gong to make her ...

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