Man needs to undergo pain and suffering to become better and stronger. Like a caterpillar wrapped in a cocoon, surrounded with darkness, it struggles to break through the barrier, then finally sheds into an elegant, tenacious butterfly. Samuel Collier has been living on the streets of London alone ever since his mother passed away, and he has fought, stolen, and strived to live. In the book Blood on the River by Elisa Carbone, the main character, Samuel, develops a better personality through his experience of the different events that occur during the adventure. He befriends companions, becomes passionate about learning, and makes decisions out of love.
First of all, Samuel begins to make friends and trust others. When Samuel is first on his way to the New World, he doesn't want to socialize and keeps himself distant from the others. He has a simple rule for himself: "instead of trying to decipher which of the men are to be trusted and which are not. Trust no one" " (Carbone 17). After his mother's death, he locks up his heart, protecting it in a shell so that nothing can harm his fragile feelings. He has put himself in solitude because he is afraid of betrayal from those whom he trusts. This philosophy has kept him alive in those harsh environments of the London streets, and he sees no point in changing. Yet surprisingly, after the death of James " another servant boy on the trip, Samuel takes the first step to approach Richard. He shows Richard some sword fighting skills, and "the first time Richard stands wearing his armor, he smiles at [Samuel]. [Samuel] knows [he's] on his way to making a friend " (Carbone 103). Samuel mistreated James prior to his death, and Samuel feels remorse over not befriending James while he was still alive. This made him realize the importance of companions, and he is relieved that Richard is there for him, not lifeless like James is now. Therefore, he takes a brave step forward and tries to befriend Richard.