Robert Louis Stevenson stated, "In each of us, two natures are at war – the good and the evil. All our lives the fight goes on between them, and one of them must conquer. But in our own hands lies the power to choose – what we want most to be we are." This quote suggests that there are noble and malicious people in the world that usually oppose one another, but the individual has the power to select what they stand for. The novel, Home of the Brave, is about a young Sudan refugee, Kek, who is haunted by guilt that he survived, while his father and brother failed to make it. He is sent to Minneapolis, Minnesota to live with his aunt and cousin, but struggles with being accustomed to his new American life. There are many positive and negative characters in the novel that are easily recognized and distinguished between "good" and "bad", and also characters that have transitioned from downbeat to constructive characters.
There are many positive and negative characters within the novel. To begin with, the novel is overflowing with noble and virtuous characters. To elaborate, Kek is a caring boy and feels for others, especially cows. His love for cows originates from Sudan, where he used to help his father care for his herd. His bond with cows is so exceptional that he claims to be able to understand them. When he sees a cow treated poorly in Minnesota, he asks the owner of the farm, Lou, if he could take care of the cow, which he names Gol. In addition, Kek is open and kind to strangers, and easily creates new friends everywhere. Furthermore, another positive character would be Hannah, Kek's new friend. Hannah is a helpful and caring girl, as she helps Kek become more familiar with American traditions. In the novel, Home of the Brave, Hannah says to Kek, "Follow me." This means that Hannah was immediately friendly to Kek, as she helped him find a seat next to her at lunch.
