Student Question
How does Rontu alter Karana's life in Island of the Blue Dolphins?
Quick answer:
Rontu significantly alters Karana's life by alleviating her loneliness. After the death of her brother and the destruction of her village, Karana is left entirely alone. Rontu provides her with companionship, offering emotional and psychological support. She cares for him and travels with him, which helps her feel less isolated. Additionally, Rontu protects her from wild dogs, enhancing her sense of security and well-being.
In this book, Rontu changes Karana’s life mainly by making her much less lonely than she had been before she got him.
By the time that Karana gets Rontu, she has been alone for months. The dogs had killed her brother Ramo, leaving her completely alone. She had burned down the village, symbolizing her complete break from the life she used to know. This is, of course, a very hard position for her to be in.
When she gets Rontu, that all changes. Now she once again has someone to care for and to keep her company. She goes all over the place with Rontu. He even protects her to some degree by driving the wild dogs away. Thus Rontu really changes her life psychologically and emotionally because he gives her a companion to care about.
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