Animal Dreams: Analysis of Major Characters
"Animal Dreams: Analysis of Major Characters" delves into the lives and complexities of the main characters in the novel, centering around Cosima "Codi" Noline, who struggles with finding her identity and purpose in life. Codi is a young woman grappling with emotional scars from her past, including the loss of her mother and a miscarriage, leading her to approach relationships with caution. Her father, Homero Noline, is the town's only doctor, suffering from Alzheimer's disease, which complicates his interactions with Codi and their community as he navigates memories of the past and present. Loyd Peregrina, Codi's lover with Apache and Navajo heritage, plays a crucial role in her journey, offering support as she seeks belonging while confronting her fears. Emelina Domingos, Codi's best friend, serves as her anchor, providing a family-like environment and facilitating connections within the community. Additionally, Viola Domingos, Emelina's mother-in-law, engages Codi in local activism, reminding her of her childhood and the town's struggles. Codi's sister, Hallie, though physically absent, symbolizes political activism and the strong bond that Codi cherishes. This analysis highlights the themes of identity, belonging, and the impact of familial and community relationships on personal growth.
Animal Dreams: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Barbara Kingsolver
First published: 1990
Genre: Novel
Locale: Grace, Arizona
Plot: Bildungsroman
Time: 1980's
Cosima Noline, the protagonist and narrator. Cosima, who goes by the nickname Codi, is in her early thirties but is still searching for her life's work and a sense of belonging. She trained to be a medical doctor but quit during her internship. She has since worked as a scientific researcher and as a convenience store clerk. Emotionally scarred by the death of her mother and her own miscarriage at the age of fifteen, Codi is cautious about forming attachments. Her strongest bond is with her sister Hallie.
Homero Noline, Codi's father, the only doctor in Grace. Codi calls him Homer. He is the protagonist of several sections of the novel. Because he suffers from Alzheimer's disease, Homer's thinking moves fluidly between past and present. Although he has maintained distance from his daughters and his community, he cares deeply about both. He deliberately established himself and his daughters as outsiders in Grace, hiding the fact that both he and their mother grew up in the town. He denies his own illness and, like Codi, insists on remaining independent and separate through most of the novel.
Loyd Peregrina, a Native American of Apache and Navajo descent. He is a railroad engineer and Codi's lover. Loyd dated Codi briefly in high school and was the father of the baby she miscarried, although he does not find out about the incident until nearly the end of the novel. He guides Codi through the landscape surrounding Grace, helps her learn to understand herself, and offers the security and sense of belonging that Codi both seeks and fears.
Emelina Domingos, Codi's best friend. Emelina provides Codi with a home, a surrogate family, and a means of reconnecting with the people of Grace. She is instrumental in getting Codi together with Loyd.
Viola Domingos, Emelina's mother-in-law. As one of the leaders of the Stitch and Bitch club, Viola gets Codi involved in attempts to save the town from economic or environmental ruin. As one of the community women who helped care for Codi when she was a child, Viola also helps Codi remember much of what she has forgotten from her childhood.
Hallie Noline, Codi's sister. During the course of the novel, Hallie is in Nicaragua, helping residents with agricultural problems. Although Hallie is not an active character in the plot, she is important because of Codi's strong attachment to her and because she represents, for Codi, an ideal model of political activism and selflessness.