Fear. Full Tilt Character Analysis

FEAR.

Fear. What does it mean to you? Is it a traumatic memory of something, or even someone? Is it intense or miniscule? No matter what, everybody has it whether or not you want to admit it, we all have fear. It’s the feeling that we get when we sense danger as it revisits our emotions or mind. In Full Tilt by Neal Shusterman, Blake has to save his brother, Quinn, before time runs out from a phantom carnival that traps its customers forever by revisiting their deadliest and traumatizing fears. In the novel the author uses an antagonist named Cassandra to transform Blake’s character from a very controlling person to a determined one, and finally a resurrected person.                                                                        In the beginning of the novel, Blake is a very controlling person. We can tell that Blake is a controlling person as he says, “Quinn called it “anal” the way I kept everything, as if being neat were some weird complex. As if there were something wrong having all my pencils sharpened, all my books in alphabetical order and clothes hung up by color.” (Shusterman 28). Blake is a controlling, because he is afraid of getting things messy. Blake could be afraid of things being messy from a past event. We can tell that Cassandra is powerful when she says, “Who am I? The sum of your dreams; the thrills you refuse to grasp; the unknown you fear.” (Shusterman 70). Cassandra is a very powerful creature. The reason why is because she has so much confidence when she speaks as if she is a force to be reckoned with. In the beginning of the novel, Blake is very controlling, and Cassandra is very powerful.                                                                        Throughout the middle of the novel, Blake is becoming very brave and determined. We can tell that Blake is determined he surprisingly says, “Before me was a cave that appeared to have no bottom. An abyss of darkness. But somehow that unknown was less intimidating than it had been only a few moments before.” (Shusterman 91-92). So far, Blake has changed from a controlling person to a more determined person. With this improvement, he will most likely change even more. Cassandra is becoming vicious and desperate when she says, “There’s no greater challenge than a survivor” (Shusterman 118). Cassandra is becoming more vicious and desperate as progresses through the rides. So, because of Blake doping tremendously well against her, she becomes more aggravated and desperate. Throughout the middle of the book Blake is determined and Cassandra is desperate.                                                                                                Towards the end of the novel, Blake has resurrected and become a new and improved human being. Blake has resurrected when he surprisingly says, “Then I did something I’d never done before. I put my hands up in the air. Way up, like you’re supposed to on the fastest wildest rides.” (Shusterman 178). Blake has resurrected from being a controlling person, to determined, and now finally, he has resurrected. With Blake having to suffer through the events of the phantom carnival he is now reborn and is doing things he thought he would never ever do. Cassandra is defeated when Blake says, “Are you dead, Cassandra, or just sleeping? Should I mourn for you or curse you for the things you’ve done?” (Shusterman 201). Cassandra is now and hopefully finally defeated. With Cassandra hopefully finally defeated we can see that Blake survived all her mind games and all of the eight deadly rides she gave him.                                                In the novel the author uses an antagonist named Cassandra to transform the protagonist, Blake’s character tremendously from controlling to resurrected. Blake has been reborn by transforming into a more undaunted human being. The only we can live with fear is we can control it or it can control us.  

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