Robert Newton’s When We Were Two is a charming tale exploring the journey of two brothers in their endeavor to discover a life of more. Challenges and obstacles are woven throughout the boys’ adventure, for Dan, the protagonist of the story, the distressing event of the death of his younger brother Eddie. As a reader, one deduces that despite the dreadful tragedy that the death of his brother is, it is critical to the story for it ensures Dan’s development. Eddie’s death allowed Dan to let go and to accept loss as well as to foster resilience and perseverance.
Crucial to Dan’s strengthening was his learning to be without Eddie, and to live a life not structured by his brother’s needs. Therefore, if one views the necessity of Eddie’s death relative to Dan’s development as a character, one concludes that Eddie’s death is of paramount importance and entirely necessary to the story itself. An integral aspect of Newton’s When We Were Two, is how, whilst he journeys from boy to man, Dan learns to let go and to accept loss as a result of Eddie’s death. “I imagine him laughing… y the time the water reaches my waist, Eddie’s gone. ” (Pg 182). This quote is taken from the novel at a time when Dan is in mourning, and, contemplating this quote, it is evident that despite his aching and longing, despite his intense pain, Dan is learning; he is learning to let Eddie go. “I feel strangely calm… while Eddie lies dead… I can feel him inside me, peaceful at last. ” (Pg 185) This quote precisely expresses just how Eddie’s death was constructive to Dan’s development as a character, as it taught Dan to move on.
This quote demonstrates that Dan has at last gained control over his emotions and that he has, through the death of Eddie, understood the hope there is in rest, in resolution, in peace. Eddie’s death, although tragic and heartrending, was vital to Dan, and despite the pain it caused, or perhaps because of the pain it caused, his death allowed Dan to develop and strengthen as a character. Central also, to the story, is a new kind of resilience Dan develops in response to Eddie’s death. “I can’t Dinger’… ‘Take him with you”I look at Eddie… nd I raise my hand and place it on my heart. Come on mate. ” (Pg 181) This quote reveals specifically the way in which Dan grew as a character. Eddie’s death drained Dan of all he was and of all he felt he had, yet this quote unveils the resilience and perseverance Dan developed because of this death, and of how, in order to continue as always. Dan stored Eddie in his heart, and endured. “I can feel Eddie inside me, urging me forward. ” (Pg 192) This second quote emphasizes the approach to life and persistence developing in Dan as the story progresses.
He used Eddie’s memory as a rallying point, and demonstrates how, to continue as he had always done, Dan remembered and allowed Eddie’s presence to linger on. Eddie’s death provided Dan with a motivation to fight on and taught him to be resilient, and without this death, Dan would not have learnt the lessons he did, nor would he have grown. Of utmost value to the story too, is the way in which Dan adapts to life without Eddie, whose presence had structured Dan’s entire life. “I don’t know how to be without him. ” (Pg 179)
This quote outlines how new and utterly frightening losing Eddie is to Dan. I’ve got nothing without him” (Pg 180). The quotes make it clear to the reader that losing Eddie is a shock to Dan and he is unsure and anxious about who he will be and what his life will be like with the gaping Eddie-like absence. The quotes indicate that Eddie was the pivotal aspect of Dan’s life and that now, without him, Dan must restructure his life and start afresh. It is obvious that Dan must grow and develop in a way he has never before. Dan must become his own person and now, without Eddie to care for and lead through the darkness, Dan’s life is entirely new and exciting.
Eddie’s death has ensured that Dan will grow and develop to be strong and to lead a life of his own. Through adversity came Dan’s strength, came his development. Newton thrusts his reader into the lives of two endearing and incredibly courageous young men. He teaches his audience through his words and conveys a message of love and loss to the reader. It is evident that Newton allowed his characters to prey on the emotions of the reader to encourage one to contemplate the true value and meaning of all that life is. Newton teaches the reader how to develop just as Eddie teaches Dan to, and one grows as Dan does.
The reader learns that letting go can provide a person with freedom and that resilience is key in moving forward. Also conveyed by Newton is a message of supreme significance, that other humans are pivotal in our lives and that losing those one loves, can mean restructuring all one holds dear. Newton’s clever yet simple story provides his reader with thoughts to contemplate and lessons to live out. Perhaps however, the true message Newton wishes to suggest through Dan and his development as a character, is that as tragic as death is, these tragedies occur specifically to help us grow; to help us be better.
