I am the I am the CheeseCheese

By: Robert CormierBy: Robert Cormier

19771977

Lauren PetersLauren Peters

SynopsisSynopsis

I am the CheeseI am the Cheese is a novel about a 14 year old is a novel about a 14 year old boy named Adam Farmer (later Paul boy named Adam Farmer (later Paul Delmonte) who is now living in a mental Delmonte) who is now living in a mental institution trying to remember the horrendous institution trying to remember the horrendous events from his past. While doing so, he is events from his past. While doing so, he is traveling from Monument, Massachusetts to traveling from Monument, Massachusetts to Rutterburg, Vermont in search of his father. Rutterburg, Vermont in search of his father. Along the way, his whole life and all its hidden Along the way, his whole life and all its hidden truth unfolds in front of him.truth unfolds in front of him.

“ “ I am afraid of a thousand things, I am afraid of a thousand things, a million. Like is it possible to be a million. Like is it possible to be claustrophobic and yet fear open claustrophobic and yet fear open spaces, too?” (12).spaces, too?” (12). I too am afraid of many things in my I too am afraid of many things in my

life. Examples are not knowing life. Examples are not knowing what’s going to happen tomorrow, what’s going to happen tomorrow, my family ( in particular my aunt my family ( in particular my aunt who is suffering from breast who is suffering from breast cancer), as well as other significant cancer), as well as other significant people in my life. I also fear what people in my life. I also fear what my future is going to be like, though my future is going to be like, though I also can’t wait for future life, in I also can’t wait for future life, in hopes it will be better.hopes it will be better.

““Amy Hertz had turned out to Amy Hertz had turned out to be the person with whom he be the person with whom he was comfortable to share his was comfortable to share his dreams. He kept few secrets dreams. He kept few secrets from her” (121).from her” (121).

There has always been that one person There has always been that one person in my life who I tell everything to. I tell in my life who I tell everything to. I tell everything to my mom because she everything to my mom because she never shares anything I tell her not to, never shares anything I tell her not to, and does not judge anything I have to and does not judge anything I have to say. She’s only ever been the one person say. She’s only ever been the one person in the world I can trust with that.in the world I can trust with that.

“ “ I pedal smoothly, my arms and legs I pedal smoothly, my arms and legs moving beautifully, coordinated, and moving beautifully, coordinated, and it seems as if pedaling the bike is it seems as if pedaling the bike is second nature now, part of my second nature now, part of my existence, something I was born to existence, something I was born to do” (211).do” (211).

Something that I consider second Something that I consider second nature to me is writing. Since I can nature to me is writing. Since I can remember, I have always been remember, I have always been writing. I’ve been naturally good at it, writing. I’ve been naturally good at it, and made 6’s on both of my writing and made 6’s on both of my writing assessments in 5assessments in 5thth and 8 and 8thth grade. grade.

“ “ Elevators panic me. I stand in the Elevators panic me. I stand in the upright coffin and my body oozes upright coffin and my body oozes sweat and my heart pounds and sweat and my heart pounds and the terrible feeling of suffocation the terrible feeling of suffocation threatens me and I wonder if the threatens me and I wonder if the door will ever open” (12).door will ever open” (12).

In one way I am connected to the In one way I am connected to the protagonist of this story because I protagonist of this story because I am terrified of elevators. I always am terrified of elevators. I always think it will break and I will fall all the think it will break and I will fall all the way down to the 1way down to the 1stst floor, and die. floor, and die. The small space also gets to me The small space also gets to me because just like Adam, I’m some because just like Adam, I’m some what claustrophobic. what claustrophobic.

““I am not only afraid of I am not only afraid of dogs, but I’m also afraid dogs, but I’m also afraid of snakes and spiders” of snakes and spiders” (31).(31). I happen to love dogs, but I happen to love dogs, but

another way I relate to the another way I relate to the protagonist is that I’m also afraid protagonist is that I’m also afraid of snakes and spiders. I have of snakes and spiders. I have the worst case of Arachnophobia the worst case of Arachnophobia and Ophidiophobia. I love and Ophidiophobia. I love animals, but bugs, the world can animals, but bugs, the world can do without.do without.

“ “ I opened the bottle of pills and I opened the bottle of pills and turned it over and let the pills fall turned it over and let the pills fall out. And I watched them fall out out. And I watched them fall out into the mouth of garbage into the mouth of garbage disposal. I felt strong and disposal. I felt strong and resolute” (14).resolute” (14). Here, Adam is getting rid of medication Here, Adam is getting rid of medication

he has to take due to his. But he wants he has to take due to his. But he wants to become independent, and show he to become independent, and show he can do things without the medicine . can do things without the medicine . That’s how I am. I like to prove to people That’s how I am. I like to prove to people that I can do things without aid from that I can do things without aid from others.others.

ThemeTheme The theme of The theme of I am the I am the

CheeseCheese is if you don’t know is if you don’t know who you are, what your point who you are, what your point and or purpose is in life, then and or purpose is in life, then all you have to do is reconcile all you have to do is reconcile your past to figure it out. your past to figure it out. Many times in the book, filling Many times in the book, filling in the blanks of Adam’s past in the blanks of Adam’s past is mentioned. He does so by is mentioned. He does so by recalling his memories and recalling his memories and life before his tragedy, and as life before his tragedy, and as time goes on, a confluence of time goes on, a confluence of his life finally takes place.his life finally takes place.

MLA CitationMLA Citation

Cormier, Robert. Cormier, Robert. I am the Cheese.I am the Cheese. New York: New York, 1977.New York: New York, 1977.