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How has knowing Timothy affected Phillip in Theodore Taylor's The Cay? How has Phillip changed? What caused the changes?

Based on Theodore Taylor's dedication in The Cay, which states, "To Dr. King's dream, which can only come true if the very young know and understand," we can tell that Taylor's most dominant theme in the book concerns the need to overcome racism. Therefore, it can be said that the greatest effect Timothy has on Phillip is helping him overcome his racism by developing color blindness.

We first learn of the racism Phillip has been taught to believe when he wakes up on a raft with Timothy after having been unconscious for four hours. Phillip's first thoughts upon seeing Timothy is that Timothy was "black and ugly" (p. 33). When Phillip begins crying because he doesn't feel Timothy has given him enough water and doesn't understand their need to conserve, Phillip reflects on his mother's racist views.  Though Phillip never previously agreed with his mother, he is now beginning to think she is right in saying of blacks, "They are not the same as you, Phillip. They are different and they live differently" (p. 36). Phillip's racist views show us that he has a need to develop color blindness, a need symbolized by his literal, physical blindness.

Once he goes physically blind, Phillip, who, being white, would normally be thought to be superior to Timothy, desperately needs Timothy for help surviving, placing Phillip in a subordinate position to Timothy, whereas normally Timothy would be considered to be subordinate to Phillip. Yet, these status roles only last for a small while. Timothy's primary goal is to teach Phillip, who has always relied on others his whole life, how to survive on his own. The more independence Phillip gains, the more he is able to see Timothy as his equal, even his friend, showing us that he develops color blindness as a result of his physical blindness.

Phillip first thinks of Timothy as his friend the day he realizes how much Timothy is helping him become independent. Timothy tells Phillip he must start helping with the work to get their shelter prepared and tries to teach Phillip how to weave their sleeping mats. When Phillip breaks down in a frustrated rage, resulting in an awakening slap from Timothy, Phillip finally begins to see Timothy for who he really is. In particular, it dawns on him that the rope Timothy has been making to span from their shelter to their signal fire was for Phillip to use as a tool to make it to the signal fire on his own. As soon as Phillip realizes this, something within him changes. He becomes willing to learn to be independent. More importantly, he begins to see Timothy as a friend, as seen in their following exchange:



Phillip: "I want to be your friend."
Timothy: "Young bahss, you 'ave always been my friend." (p. 72)



Their newfound friendship shows that Phillip now sees Timothy as his equal, which further shows he has been healed of his racism by developing color blindness.

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