About Gryphon, Essay Example

Gryphon by Charles Baxter tells the story of a substitute teacher, Ms. Ferencz, attempts to change the way that her students think about the world around them, providing them with a stark contrast to the type of education that they had been accustomed to receiving. Some students welcome Ms. Ferenczi’s quirks an attitude, indicating that they are accepting of her instruction to think outside of the box. However, others become frustrated with their inability to do so and are quickly to find ways to get their new teacher in trouble. This contrast between the desire and resistance to change is what characterizes the students in this story. It demonstrates that some students are able to recognize their flaws and allow themselves to alter their other thought, while others will remain trapped in the confines of society. Belief in the words of Ms. Ferenczi indicates an acceptance of change, while a rejection of her words indicates an inability to cope with new ideals.

The character of Ms. Ferenczi is central to the plot of Gryphon because she is responsible for turning her fourth-grade classroom in rural Five Oaks, Michigan upside down. Although she seems to be mysterious and provide her students with information that seems to be half fact and half-truth, she seems to be committed to teaching her students an important lesson before her time at the school is done. All of this is done in an exciting manner that draws the attention of her students and makes them want to learn more. It is essential to point out that everything about Ms. Ferenczi is in stark contrast with what we would expect from the typical teacher. Stereotypical teachers are reflection of society and do little to excite children about learning. Ms. Ferenczi fights this stereotype by engaging students and filling their heads with fantastical stories. One could argue that this character is the ideal teacher because she intends to create a lasting impact on her students that is beyond a scope that most teachers are able to achieve.

Tommy is an example of a character who wishes to strongly believe in Ms. Ferenczi’s stories and who is fascinated by her personality. His support for her demonstrates that he is likely to incorporate the values that she teaches him in his life following her role as substitute teacher. However, Tommy’s complete acceptance of Ms. Ferenczi’s words demonstrate that he is naïve, as it is likely that even Ms. Ferenczi doesn’t believe that everything she speaks is true. When Tommy engages in a fight with Wayne Razmer, he shouts “She was always right! She told the truth!”, indicating that he wanted to believe in the fantastical stories his teacher told. While it is unlikely that Tommy will be immediately able to utilize the life lessons provided to him by Ms. Ferenczi, he will be able to look back on this experience as an adult and understand the true meaning of his teacher’s words.

Wayne Razmer provides a significant contrast to Tommy, who is more whimsical by nature. The reader can determine that Wayne is a realist who takes life seriously based on his interactions with Ms. Ferenczi and the other students. When Ms. Ferenczi offers to tell the students’ futures, Wayne pulls out the death card. Ms. Ferenczi, who is not concerned with telling lies, indicates to him that this means that he will die soon. Wayne was very distraught by this and reported it to the principal, indicating that he takes everything too literally. It is this very difference in values that causes Tommy and Wayne to engage in a fist fight over their beliefs regarding their substitute teacher.

In conclusion, Ms. Ferenczi’s personality and value is demonstrated through the characters of her students. From the outside view, it appears that her teaching methods are not effective, but in reality, her actions teach her students lessons that they will be able to apply throughout their lives. She aims to teach them to think outside of the box, even though a small number of them, such as Tommy, show the potential for grasping this idea. Even though Tommy is naïve and wishes to retain the magic of childhood, he believes in Ms. Ferenczi and is likely to come to an understanding of the true meaning of her lessons. On the other hand, students such as Wayne take life too seriously to think outside of the box, and are more likely to become annoyed with Ms. Ferenczi’s tactics. Ultimately, Ms. Ferenczi wanted to instill in her students that they should all be original in their thoughts and actions and that they shouldn’t be restrained by society. Students such as Tommy will be able to succeed and be happy after gaining this valuable lesson, while students like Wayne are more likely to struggle in an ever changing world.

References

Baxter, Charles. (2009). Gryphon. Retrieved from http://engl611- nixon.wikispaces.umb.edu/file/view/Baxter,+Gryphon.PDF