Daughter of the Forest

Twice a year, on midsummer and midwinter's eve, six graceful swans turn back into human form between sunset and sunrise. These morphisms are the only times Sorcha can be with her brothers. Although she must remain silent, Sorcha has the capability to speak to Finbar, the strong-minded steadfast one, and Conor, the wise Druid, mind-to-mind. They can read each other's thoughts and feelings as they share a special bond apart from the other three brothers. The night after Sorcha was raped, Finbar spent his entire night as a human filling her mind with happy, fearless thoughts. The longer Finbar used his power, the weaker he became. Then, each time afterwards he changed form, his personality gradually dwindled. In the end, Finbar shifted from a (word that means seeking justice), well-spoken mediator into a silent, fearfully lost half-human.

Finbar is just one example of character growth in Daughter of the Forest. Sorcha and Simon also grew an exponential amount. However, many characters stayed the same, which made me wonder why those particular characters emotionally matured more than others. And it occurred to me that they gave the most of themselves for a cause that they believed most in. Sorcha sacrificed her world of safety and comfort to save her brothers; Simon wanted to prove his worth to the world; and Finbar struggled to to make the world a just place, a most formidable task on all their parts. My conclusion: the ones who give the most of themselves change the most with time. Experiences shape who you are. So, for example, if all your experiences revolve around giving yourself to others, you will become part of everyone you influence, which creates a stronger version of humanity. Those who generously give of themselves are the ones who most change the world.