The essence of a memoir is to look back at one's experience, and see how they have developed and matured.

The first 200 words of this essay...

The essence of a memoir is to look back at one's experience, and see how they have developed and matured. This is no different in Dave Eggers fictitious memoir, A Heartbreaking Story of Staggering Genius. To explore what has changed a person it is important to look at what most of the person's time was spent doing. In Dave's situation, there is no shadow of a doubt, at the age of 22, his life revolved around the security and well being of his little brother Christopher (Toph). To completely comprehend Eggers growth and maturity, it is essential to analyze his relationship with his little brother Toph. Father, mother, brother, all wrapped in one, Dave becoming Toph's guardian constructed the adult that Eggers would become.

Dave did not become Toph's guardian because he wanted to, but because he was the one left over. Bill was out getting a job and Beth was finishing graduate school. Dave immediately tried to overcome the grief of dealing with two dead parents, and taking care of Toph by making Toph's and his own lives fun. He spent all of the social security and inheritance on a nice house; they went out all the