Sarah+M.~Ko+vs.+Mary

Sarah Miller Period: 2 6- 1- 10 Ko vs. Mary In the books __So Far From the Bamboo Grove__ __by Yoko Kawashima Watkins,__ and __Secret Garden__  __by Francis H. Burnett__, the two characters Ko and Mary are in completely different situations! Other than going to a new place, there lives are opposite. Though, oddly, their personalities are alike in many ways. However, Ko and Mary are also very different.

Ko, from So Far From the Bamboo Grove, is a Japanese teenager who is trying to get her family and herself to safety. One of her character traits is brave because in the book she hides, lies, steals, must hide her identity from strangers, rely only on her, and kill if she has to. For example, when a man tries to take Mother’s spot to sleep, she threatens to kill him so that Mother would have somewhere to lie down. Also, in the book, when Ko needs to feed her sister, mother, and herself, she lies to a farmer that she is a soldier who needs food. This could be called stealing. A second trait of Ko’s is stubborn, or strong-willed, since she does what she wants to, and has to survive, and doesn’t listen to anyone but herself and Mother. For example, when they are on the train on their way to Seoul, they had to pretend they were sick. Ko had to have blood and afterbirth on her to pretend she had a baby. If I or anyone else would have to do that they would freak out, and could not stand being covered with blood. A third trait for Ko is helpful because when Hideyo was not there to feed them and keep them alive, Ko had to do it. For example, Ko had to find food for them, and lead the way to Seoul, because she was in charge.

Unlike Ko, I believe Mary is not nearly as brave as her because she never does anything to show it. To me she is just a normal girl who could never do the things Ko had to do. At first, she didn’t even have the bravery to find out where they were keeping Colin. Though she is not brave, she is very stubborn, like Ko. One reason I think she is stubborn, or strong-willed is because in the story when the housekeeper tells her to do something she ignores her, and does what she wants to. Also the housekeeper told her not to go into the other bedrooms in the house, but she does anyway. Also like Ko I think Mary is very helpful because in the book she helps Colin by making him happy, stop crying all the time, and go outside to get fresh air. Because she does this she helps him become more healthy and happy.

As you can see, Mary and Ko may have their differences, but they are also very alike. This shows that although two stories’ characters’ lives may be different, they can be very similar. Also, they do have the difference that Ko is brave, and Mary isn’t. Altogether, Ko and Mary are more similar than different.