Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher

As Jeremy struggles to deal with the fallout of Tiamat’s presence in his life, he gradually grows more assertive while Overcoming Insecurities through Responsibility. For example, Jeremy’s guilt over the disastrous dinner party shows his sense of responsibility and foreshadows his response to the so-called “hotfoot incident” with Mr. Kravitz. In that particular incident, Jeremy fails to regulate his emotions and succumbs to his frustration over Mr. Kravitz’s strict and unimaginative approach to art, indirectly causing Tiamat to set Mr. Kravitz’s shoe on fire in retaliation. When the ill-tempered teacher bans the entire class from the art contest, Jeremy is faced with yet another moral dilemma, for although he did not set the fire himself, he is responsible for Tiamat, and his emotions led her to act in the first place.

In Jeremy’s mature attempt to reconcile with the teacher he so dislikes, Coville explores ideas of empathy, responsibility, and emotion. Although Mr. Kravitz’s response does not fully redeem the sour teacher, it does deepen the understanding of the hostile dynamics between the two characters, especially when Mr. Kravitz asserts that Jeremy is talented but lacks discipline. Upon catching a glimpse of Mr. Kravitz’s own unsuccessful attempt at creating art, Jeremy intuitively realizes that Mr. Kravitz bullies him because the teacher is jealous of his natural artistic talent. The revelation that Mr. Kravitz’s demeanor stems from a mix of professional jealousy and a genuine desire to help his students shows him to be a flawed man trapped by his own insecurities and unfulfilled artistic aspirations. With this scene, Coville demonstrates that authority figures are also human, and their responses are colored by their own struggles and emotions. In a sharp contrast to this bitter interaction, the principal’s active support of Jeremy shows the impact that an empathetic adult can have on a struggling student. This moment of understanding helps Jeremy to find constructive ways to cope with his difficulties, guiding him further on his path toward Overcoming Insecurities through Responsibility.

While Jeremy is dealing with everyday problems at school, the letter from Mr. Elives provides further stress by forcing him to permanently separate from his beloved dragon. The knowledge that the parting date is weeks away rather than months away is another devastating blow to the boy. Tiamat has become an integral part of his life, influencing his art and providing a source of companionship during a particularly difficult time in his life. Jeremy’s anguish over these imminent changes reinforces the fact that the novel also functions as a coming-of-age story, in which the protagonist must navigate the inevitable trials of growing up. Just as Tiamat must return to her world, Jeremy must also learn to accept change, and these dynamics reveal The Mutual Benefits of Caregiving that both characters have experienced over the past weeks. Jeremy’s growing understanding of Tiamat’s needs and his protective instincts toward her reflect his evolving role as a caregiver, and this nurturing aspect of his character highlights the reciprocal relationship between boy and dragon, for both Jeremy and Tiamat learn and grow from their shared experiences.

Despite his fear of losing Tiamat, Jeremy’s act of moving her from the house to the barn shows his grudging acceptance of the inevitability of change. Because she is growing far too quickly to remain within the confines of the house, he must provide her with a bigger world, and the barn therefore serves as an interim solution until the rapidly growing dragon is ready to step into her own world as a fully mature adult. Between Jeremy’s growing distress over losing Tiamat and his ongoing issues at school, Coville captures the tumultuous nature of growing up, a process during which every decision feels monumental and every emotion is amplified.