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The story Ghost by Jason Reynolds tells the story of a boy named Castle who grows up in difficult times for him. His family almost fell apart due to the fact that his father is a prisoner and his mother is practically on the verge of poverty. Thus, the author tells a tragic story about a man who is forced to survive and is unlikely to become a good person. In this story, not a literal reading plays a big role, but an examination of symbolic details.
There are many symbols involved in the story, which help illustrate the growth of Castles character. The first symbol, one that is a recurring theme throughout the whole story, is the sunflower seeds: My dad used to eat sunflower seeds too. Thats where I get it (Reynolds 7). The role of the sunflower seeds in the story is manyfold. First, it symbolizes the connection between Mr. Charles and Castle due to the fact that the first constantly supports the boy. Second, the seeds themselves are a symbol of something with a potential to grow into a beautiful sunflower. As it was said in the story itself, the word sunflower is made up of two good words (Reynolds 7). Therefore, it is a symbol of goodness and realized potential since sunflowers leave behind many seeds that will continue to grow. As the story progresses, we see Castle getting closer to achieving his potential.
Another symbol that was present through more than half of the story is Castles stolen running shoes the silver bullets. They are mesmerizing the first time Castle sees them: The track shoes at Everything Sports were amazing. Neon green and gold, shiny black and electric blue. They looked like they were full of power and speed& (Reynolds 51). The shoes in and of themselves symbolize a glamorous life the glossy and gleaming existence of star athletes and rich people one can see on TV. It is a kind of a goal that is unachievable for Castle at the present date. He tries to take the easy way by stealing them: At first I was going to tell them about the shoes. That I stole them. (Reynolds 81). When this happens, the shoes undertake another symbolic transformation that of stolen virtue. They do not make Castle particularly faster, or more enduring, but they do besmirch his character in the eyes of his coach. The moral about the shoes is one cannot steal talent or hard work it must be put in the effort regardless. It is only when Castle confesses, apologizes, and makes up for it that the shoes (and the uniform) become a hard-earned reward.
The third symbol present is the boys bedroom, which is associated with home and all the events in it, good or bad. The first mentioning happens during Castles flashbacks about his father: I had my head sandwiched between the mattress and my pillow, something I got used to doing whenever they were going at it, when my mom crashed into my bedroom (Reynolds 4). In that manner, the bedroom is the symbol of poor upbringing. It is associated with the terror of having to live with an alcoholic father, poverty, and neglect. On the other hand, the bed in his room has a different connotation. Castle describes it as follows: My bed. The same cover. Same pillow. Same everything as that night. I sat on it, my body sinking into the mattress, almost like it was wrapping itself around me, hugging me. Like it missed me (Reynolds 103). In that aspect, the bed is the symbol of acceptance of who one is. It tells the reader that no matter the troubles, home is where the family is where one will always find acceptance and understanding. After hearing everyone elses stories, setting himself straight, and having a goal in mind, Castle finally became whole.
The story, as a whole, is a transformational tale about striving and achieving ones goals. Like a sunflower seed, Castle grew into something bigger and better than his original self. He overcame challenges, improved himself, gained new friends, and became a much better runner. In the end, he did not become a criminal like his father, steered away from it by the supportive community. In this way, kindness can sprout in people like sunflower seeds.
Work Cited
Reynolds, Jason. Ghost. Atheneum, 2016.
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