Khing 1108

Dills decision to go to the college

What are the motivations that push you to do in what you think? Some might say that

the good motivations are from bad things or some might say that they are from the good

supports. This story is about the life of the main character named Dill in the novel called The

Serpent King which is written by Jeff Zentner. Dill is a senior boy who has his own dream

that he wants to go to the college, but because of some family issues, his mother tries to

forbid Dill to follow his way. Also, his mother is the religious person, so she wants him to

believe in the existence of the god. His father is imprisoned, and his mother believes that

because of Dill that makes his father needs to be in jail. Dill, who believes in his thought to

decide to go to the college as he motivated by the support from his friend, the familys

financial, and to prove people who judge him by his name are wrong.

Support from Dills friend makes him decides to study in the college. Dill has Lydia

as his main supporter. She always convinces him to decide to study in the college. As Lydia

says that Colleges, I want you to go to college ( Zentner, 2016, p.77 ). Lydia might sees that

her friend always work hard and thinks that if Dill decides to go to the college, Dills life will

changed automatically. He will get a better life, learn to live in a bigger environment,and also

makes more opportunity for the jobs than continue his old job with less money and less

happiness.

Dills family financial is not good, so he needs money to make his familys financial

better. The financial of his family is the last reason to push him to study. His mother needs to

work so hard because his father is imprisoned and his grandparents also died. So, he is one of

tower of strength of his family. However, he knows that if he decides to go to the college, he

will have more opportunity and more options for the job and the work. He can get more

money for himself and for his family. As Dill said that College would give me more options
in life ( Zentner, 2016, p.142 ). This quote shows that he thinks he will get a better job with

more money and more happiness from his job if he decides to go to the college.t If we are

talking about working, the following thing that also important is the communication to others,

but what if you have been underestimated by the people who just know your name.

In Dills life, he always be underestimate by the people around him including his

mom. Many people have the same idea that like father, like son . Dills grandfather is the

serpent king who kills the snakes after one killed his daughter, wore the clothes that full of the

snakes skins, and committed suicide by the poison. Dills father is the pastor of Dills

church, parishioners handled serpents, the one who drinks poison, and he is also imprisoned

now. People have judged him already by what his father and grandfather did, not what he did.

You stay away from her. Stay away. I know who you are. Youre Dillard Earlys son. You

dont touch my child. Got it? ( Zentner, 2016, p.153 ) This quote is from Daisys mom.

According to chapter 19, Dill is working at the store and there is a girl named Daisy. She

comes with her mother. Dill sees her riding the plastic coin-operated pony and suddenly, she

falls from that machine. Dill tries to help her but her mother thinks that Dill does something

that hurts her. She knows about Dills background and she doesnt want him to talk to her

daughter because she might afraid that he might do something bad to her daughter like what

his parents have done before. What she says is the underestimation to Dill. So, If he can go to

the college, he can prove them wrong.

In conclusion, by having influences from support from Dills friend, the familys

financial, and to prove the people who judge him by his name are wrong. Lydia who sees the

benefit of going to the college tries to convince Dill to go to college. The bad familys

financial causes Dill to work hard and going to college will bring him a better life after he

graduates. To prove the people who judge him by his name are wrong, he needs to do
something to show them that he is Dill, not same as his parents. We should choose the best

way for ourselves to bring good things following.