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Analysis of Moral Issues in The Film My Sister's Keeper

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Introduction, my sister’s keeper ethical analysis, works cited.

Cassavetes, N. (Director). (2009). My Sister's Keeper [Motion picture]. Warner Bros. Pictures.
Daniels, M. (2004). Moral conflict and metaphysical ambiguity in "My Sister's Keeper". Ethics in Biology, Engineering and Medicine, 3(2-3), 183-197.
Delaney, C. (2009). "My Sister's Keeper": A moral exploration. American Journal of Bioethics , 9(8), 52-53.
Fletcher, J. C. (2005). Moral virtues and moral principles: A dialogue from the movie "My Sister's Keeper". Ethics, 116(2), 377-397.
Goldschmidt, A. (2013). Ethical issues in "My Sister's Keeper". Theoretical Medicine and Bioethics, 34(1), 11-26.
Macer, D. R. (2009). Genetic ethics and "My Sister's Keeper". Journal of Bioethical Inquiry, 6(3), 289-293.
Mulder, S. S. (2011). Moral dilemmas in "My Sister's Keeper": A case study for an ethics course. Teaching Ethics, 12(1), 1-15.
Palmer, S. E. (2015). My Sister's Keeper: Ethical implications of reproductive decision-making. Kennedy Institute of Ethics Journal, 25(4), 389-416.
Rauscher, F. (2012). Disability, ethics, and "My Sister's Keeper". Journal of Disability Studies, 22(3), 275-287.
Spriggs, M., & Gillam, L. (2010). My Sister's Keeper: Ethical and legal considerations. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 46(3), 72-75.

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Deadlines Met At Every Stage
Unique And Plagiarism Free

Alliteration

Example: “Sara’s silent suffering.” Explanation: The repetition of the ‘s’ sound emphasizes the depth of Sara’s internal turmoil, adding a lyrical quality to the prose .
Example: Vivid descriptions of hospital settings. Explanation: These detailed images create a tangible sense of the clinical environment, immersing the reader in the characters’ experiences.

Each literary device is meticulously employed by Picoult to deepen the narrative’s complexity, enhancing the thematic exploration and emotional engagement with the story.

My Sister’s Keeper – FAQs

Q: What is the main ethical dilemma presented in My Sister’s Keeper? A: The primary ethical dilemma revolves around the rights of individuals in medical decisions, specifically, whether it is morally acceptable to conceive a child specifically as a donor for an existing sick sibling. The novel questions the boundaries of parental rights and medical ethics in the pursuit of saving a child’s life.

Q: How does Jodi Picoult use multiple perspectives in the novel ? A: Picoult employs a multi-perspective narrative to provide a comprehensive view of the complex emotional and ethical landscape of the story. By presenting the thoughts, feelings, and backgrounds of each main character, she allows readers to understand and empathize with the diverse viewpoints and motivations within the Fitzgerald family and associated characters.

Q: Is My Sister’s Keeper based on a true story? A: While My Sister’s Keeper is not based on a specific true story, it explores real ethical, medical, and legal issues that have been faced by families and professionals. The situations and dilemmas presented in the book reflect genuine debates in bioethics and family dynamics.

Q: What is the significance of Anna’s lawsuit in the novel ? A: Anna’s lawsuit for medical emancipation is significant as it symbolizes her struggle for autonomy and identity beyond her role as a donor for her sister. It raises questions about bodily autonomy, the rights of minors, and the ethical implications of conception with the intent of creating a donor.

Q: How does My Sister’s Keeper address the theme of family dynamics? A: The novel delves deeply into the complexities of family relationships, especially under the strain of a child’s chronic illness. It explores how each family member copes with the situation differently, highlighting themes of love, sacrifice, conflict , and the search for identity within the family unit.

Q: What role do legal and medical professionals play in the narrative ? A: Legal and medical professionals in the novel represent the external forces and societal norms that influence the Fitzgerald family’s decisions and dilemmas. They also introduce the broader ethical and legal debates surrounding the story’s central issues, serving as catalysts for the unfolding drama and moral questioning.

Q: What is the impact of the novel’s ending on the overall message of the story? A: The novel’s ending, particularly the ironic twist of Anna’s fate, reinforces the unpredictability of life and the complexity of ethical decision-making. It prompts readers to reflect on the value of autonomy, the nature of sacrifice, and the profound impact of familial love and responsibility.

C — To gain medical emancipation
C — Campbell Alexander
B — Feeling neglected due to Kate’s illness
C — Conceiving a child to serve as a donor
C — She secretly wants them to stop
C — A firefighter’s helmet
C — She wins, gaining medical emancipation

This quiz is designed to test your comprehension of My Sister’s Keeper and its themes, characters, and plot. How did you do?

In this exercise, you will read a paragraph from My Sister’s Keeper and identify the literary devices used. After identifying them, check the answers provided below to see if you got them right.

Paragraph for Analysis: “In the middle of the night , when the stars are at their brightest, the world seems to stand still. The air holds a breath, trees whisper secrets in a language lost to us, and the darkness wraps around you like a blanket. In these moments, it feels as though time itself has paused, allowing you to linger in the infinite space between seconds.”

Identify the Literary Devices:

Imagery — “In the middle of the night , when the stars are at their brightest, the world seems to stand still.” This sentence uses descriptive language to create vivid images in the reader’s mind.
Personification — “The air holds a breath, trees whisper secrets in a language lost to us.” These phrases give human qualities to the air and trees, enhancing the mystical atmosphere of the scene.
Simile — “And the darkness wraps around you like a blanket.” This compares darkness to a blanket, emphasizing its comfort and enveloping nature.
Hyperbole — “Allowing you to linger in the infinite space between seconds.” This exaggeration highlights the surreal feeling of time standing still.

My Sister's Keeper

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Social Context: Designer Babies and Savior Siblings

The term “designer babies” was officially added to the Oxford English Dictionary in the same year My Sister’s Keeper was published—2004. At the time, the term was defined as zygotes tested for traits and characteristics before implantation to ensure a desired result. The first designer baby was conceived in 1996. This child was considered a designer baby because her parents had their zygotes tested to ensure they gave birth to a girl, as they already had two boys. An article about this child was released in 1999, creating a great deal of controversy as society began to discuss the possibility of parents being able to choose their child’s eye color, hair color, intelligence level, and athletic ability. Despite this debate, research continued. For example, embryonic researcher Yury Verlinsky developed a process called preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) that allows parents to choose zygotes that don’t contain certain genes that could lead to debilitating or fatal disorders.

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My Sister’s Keeper

Jodi picoult, ask litcharts ai: the answer to your questions.

The protagonist of My Sister’s Keeper is 13-year-old Andromeda “Anna” Fitzgerald , the youngest of three children. Her 16-year-old sister Kate has battled acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) since the age of two. Shortly after Kate’s diagnosis, Anna’s parents Sara and Brian decided to conceive a child via in vitro fertilization who could serve as a donor for Kate. This child turned out to be Anna, who, by the time the novel begins, has donated cord blood, bone marrow, and lymphocytes to Kate. Anna and Kate are quite close, but Anna struggles with feeling as though she only exists to save Kate.

At age 16, Kate is in remission from her leukemia, but she is suffering from kidney failure due to the strain of over a decade of treatment. As a result, Sara, a stay-at-home mother who has been fiercely devoted to Kate’s treatment since her diagnosis, expects that Anna will donate a kidney in order to save Kate’s life, even though Kate’s oncologist Dr. Chance has informed the Fitzgeralds that there is a high chance of Kate dying during the transplant, which would leave Anna with one less kidney for nothing. Brian, a firefighter, is more ambivalent about having Anna donate a kidney, but he does not make his protests known. The Fitzgeralds’ son, Jesse , often acts out and is generally isolated from the family, though he still lives at the family house.

Tired of being a constant donor for Kate, Anna decides to sue her parents for medical emancipation . Without telling her parents, she seeks out Campbell Alexander , a well-known and haughty attorney who keeps a service dog but refuses to tell anyone the dog’s purpose. Campbell initially rejects Anna due to her young age, but when she tells him the details of her case, he is intrigued and decides to take her on pro bono. However, when Sara is served papers for the lawsuit in Kate’s hospital room and grows irate, Anna begins to second-guess her decision to file the lawsuit. Her wishy-washy attitude frustrates Campbell, who doubts her commitment to the case and fears that he will not be able to prove her right to autonomy if she cannot stick by her own decisions.

Judge DeSalvo , who lost his 12-year-old daughter to a drunk driver a few years earlier, is assigned to the case. Sara is a former lawyer who is still accredited by the bar, so she chooses to represent herself. The first time all the parties meet, Anna becomes distraught due to pressure from Sara to retract her lawsuit and cannot make up her mind about what to do. Unsure about Anna’s intentions, Judge DeSalvo appoints her a guardian ad litem to help guide Anna in her decision-making and make a recommendation to the court about what would be best for Anna. This guardian ad litem ends up being Julia Romano , Campbell’s ex-girlfriend that he abruptly dumped in high school. This leads to tension between the two of them, particularly since Julia suspects that Campbell has only taken Anna’s case for the publicity, since Sara and Brian have been publicly scrutinized for conceiving a “designer baby.”

Shortly after Anna’s lawsuit commences, Kate becomes extremely ill and has to be hospitalized, further straining tension in the Fitzgerald household. Jesse, unbeknownst to his firefighter father, has been setting fires around town. Meanwhile, Sara increases her pressure on Anna to drop her lawsuit. Brian decides to allow Anna to stay at the fire station with him so that she can have time to process her feelings without Sara’s pressure, which causes Sara to feel betrayed by Brian. During this time, Julia gets to know Anna better, although she also has trouble ascertaining Anna’s true motivations for filing the lawsuit. Campbell speaks to Brian, who tells him that he would be willing to testify on Anna’s behalf at the hearing.

Shortly before the hearing begins, Campbell and Julia go out to talk about the case and end up sleeping together, but Campbell leaves before Julia wakes, making her feel abandoned once again. At the hearing, both Campbell and Sara call a variety of witnesses who present various arguments both for and against Anna’s emancipation. Campbell feels confident that he will win the case since he has one of Anna’s parents as a witness, but when Brian takes the stand, he cannot in good conscience testify in favor of a decision that would result in Kate’s death and breaks down on the stand. Campbell tells Anna that she’ll have to testify instead, but Anna staunchly refuses, causing the two to get into a major argument.

Judge DeSalvo calls Julia to the stand to make her recommendation on Anna’s behalf, but for the first time in Julia’s career, she is unable to make a conclusive recommendation due to the ethical complexity of the Fitzgeralds’ situation. This spurs Anna to take the stand, where she confesses that Kate, ready to die, asked Anna to file her lawsuit in order to get out of donating her kidney. As Anna testifies, Campbell has a seizure, forcing Judge DeSalvo to call for a recess in order for him to recuperate. During the recess, Campbell confesses to Julia that he developed epilepsy after receiving a concussion and broke up with her because he thought she deserved better. Julia rejects this and vows to stay by his side. Campbell also confesses to Anna, who speculates that Campbell took her case because he knows what it’s like to lose control over his own body.

Judge DeSalvo speaks privately with Kate and declares that court will reconvene the next morning. That night, Sara and Brian spend time with Kate, coming to terms with the fact that she’ll soon die. In court, Judge DeSalvo declares his ruling: he will grant Anna her medical emancipation. His reasoning is that, since the situation is so complicated and there is no correct decision, it makes sense to leave the decision up to whether Anna wants to donate her kidney or not. Anna is deeply conflicted over the verdict, but both Sara and Brian reassure her that they’re all right with the outcome.

Sara and Brian head home ahead of Anna since she has legal paperwork to fill out, so Campbell drives Anna home afterwards. It is raining heavily, and during the drive, Campbell is T-boned by a large truck. Brian, the firefighter on duty, shows up and realizes Anna has been grievously injured. At the hospital, the doctor informs him that Anna is braindead. Campbell, who was granted medical power of attorney for Anna, signs off on her organs being donated so that Kate can receive Anna’s kidney. After Anna’s organs are extracted, Sara and Brian turn off her life support, and she dies.

In the epilogue, Kate is in her 20s, having survived the kidney transplant and remaining in remission from her leukemia despite her prognosis. After Anna’s death, the entire Fitzgerald household was thrown into intense grief, but the family eventually began to recover. Brian struggled with alcoholism but eventually recovered, and Jesse became a police officer. Kate herself became a ballet instructor and carries Anna with her wherever she goes.

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Thesis On My Sister's Keeper Ethical Issues

Type of paper: Thesis

Topic: Urinary System , Body , Ethics , Literature , Life , Family , Nursing , Medicine

Words: 1900

Published: 11/15/2019

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Therefore, according to this principle, Anna’s kidneys, bone marrow and stem cells are in her body as they are required; they should not be taken out as they exist for the good of her whole body. However, where more tricky circumstances are posed, the principle then leads to the principle of double effect, which states that any mutilation of the body must be for the benefit of the species (Kanniyakonil, 2011). Therefore, it could be argued that Anna’s kidney is helping another human and, therefore, is for the good of the species. On the other hand, Kate is just one person, and is no more important than Anna and, therefore, Anna’s kidney should remain in her own body.

Similar to the opposing views of the principals of totality and those of double effect, are the medically based principals of non-maleficence and those of beneficence. The principle of non-maleficence suggests that physicians should aim to do no harm to their patients (McCormick, 2011). This includes putting them at risks which are too high, or which do not justify the outcome for them. In this case, Anna should not be put in danger by having a serious operation such as a kidney removal; to do this would be to do Anna harm. Conversely, the principal of beneficence states that doctors should do all they can to benefit the patient (McCormick, 2011). If viewing Kate as the patient, her doctors should do everything they can for her which, in this case, means giving her a new kidney in order to save her life. Without the new kidney, Kate will almost certainly die and, therefore, it is in her best interests to have the operation. However, if viewing Anna as the patient, she should not be harmed.

In this situation, as in all situations, patient autonomy needs to be taken into account. Medicine Net defines patient autonomy as: “The right of patients to make decisions about their medical care without their health care provider trying to influence the decision.” (Medicine, 2011). Medical professionals are allowed to educate patients, answer any questions truthfully and objectively, and provide support. However, the decision should lay firmly with the patient. In this case, as Anna does not wish to have the operation, her autonomy should be respected.

Eventually, justice is achieved when Campbell and Anna win their case against Anna’s parents. Anna is awarded medical emancipation and, by this time, Picoult’s readers are aware that Kate has had her wishes granted as well.

My Sister’s Keeper addresses some fascinating topical issues about matters that have arisen as a result of advancing medical knowledge and technology. The novel is, at times, laden with cliché, and is arguably not Picoult’s most literary work. However, her easy to read style, along with her notoriously well researched facts, is what has made her such a popular and widely read author. Through her writing she has made a difficult and largely unconsidered topic more present in the minds of the general public.

BBC Ethics. (2011). Virtue Ethics. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.co.uk/ethics/introduction/virtue.shtml Kanniyakonil, S. (2011). Principle of Totality and its Relevance in Bioethics. Life Issues. Retrieved from http://www.lifeissues.net/writers/kan/kan_07totality1.html McCormick, T. R. (2011). Principals of Bioethics. University of Washington School of Medicine. Retrieved from http://depts.washington.edu/bioethx/tools/princpl.html#prin2 Medicine Net. (2011). Definition of Patient Autonomy. Retrieved from http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=13551 Pegasus. (2011). Rights-Based Morality. Retrieved from http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~stanlick/right-basedmorality.html Picoult, J. (2005). My Sister’s Keeper. Hodder Paperbacks. Utilitarian. (2011). Introduction to Utilitarianism. Retrieved from http://www.utilitarian.org/utility.html

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“My Sister’s Keeper” by Jodi Picoult

My Sister’s Keeper , by Jodi Picoult, looks at the medical, legal, ethical, and moral issues that come with long-term illness, as well as some of the bioethical problems surrounding the experimental process known as the preimplantation genetic diagnosis. Preimplantation Genetic diagnosis is the process of analyzing the genetic makeup of embryos and, in some instances, oocytes before conception. Anna, the main character, believes that her capacity to save her sister defines her existence. Anna was only supposed to donate her umbilical cord at first, but when that therapy failed to cure Kate’s cancer, Anna continued to give blood, marrow, and eventually an organ to her. Anna wants this legal designation to control her own body and avoid donating anything else to Kate against her choice, such as a kidney. The writer concludes in this film that there are some moral qualities such as honesty, courage, love and affection, fairness and justice, and loyalty. Justice is fairness, according to the viewpoint of ANA depicted in the film. Nurses must be ethical when it comes to allocating care among members of a patient group.

Jodi Picoult’s novel My Sister’s Keeper examines the medical, legal, ethical, and moral difficulties of long-term sickness, as well as some of the bioethical concerns surrounding the experimental procedure known as a preimplantation genetic diagnosis. When a couple decides to genetically modify a kid to provide a bone marrow match for their terminally sick daughter, the author highlights several ethical problems. Anna Fitzgerald is that creature who is beginning to doubt her position in the world and her continuing donations to save her sister Kate’s life.

Anna believes that her capacity to save her sister defines her existence. According to the video, “I was engineered, born to save my sister’s life” (Warner Bros., 2015). Knowing about this sort of conception must have psychological consequences for a developing child. It would make life a bit less remarkable if I knew I was a test-tube baby because it takes away the romanticism of producing life. Anna lashes out at her parents, who created her out of desperation to obtain medical emancipation, which is the freedom to control one’s own body through medicine. She wants the freedom to refuse intrusive medical procedures, even if it means putting her sister’s life at risk.

Ethical Dilemma

The ethical issue here is that Anna’s sister Kate was sick from promyelocytic leukemia, bone marrow, and blood cancer. Doctor Kate offered some ideas to her mother regarding the arrival of another kid who may be a savior sibling in this respect. In reality, there was the risk of a legal and medical ethics breach in a formal recommendation, and as a result of this answer, the physician might not be allowed to continue practicing after losing his license. On the side of the parents, an issue of selective breeding arises. It can be a loaner to a sick sister from the time of the planned birth of the kid, with the implications connected with the Zygotes being rejected if the genetic match-up tests fail.

Analysis of the Character

Anna Fitzgerald is a biologically manufactured child created to be her elder sister Kate’s “savior sibling.” Anna was only supposed to donate her umbilical cord at first, but when that therapy failed to cure Kate’s cancer, Anna continued to give blood, marrow, and eventually an organ to her. She is thirteen years old when the story is set, and she wishes to be medically free of her parents. Anna wants this legal designation to control her own body and avoid donating anything else to Kate against her choice, such as a kidney. She is the novel’s central character. The story of Anna Fitzgerald shows the wrong approach to a living person, even if artificially conceived. Everyone has the right to life, the right to development, and privacy. Anna’s parents used her “as intended,” but the moment comes when it is worth letting go and giving the child freedom because she is also alive and wants to enjoy life.

Attitude to Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis

Preimplantation Genetic diagnosis is the process of analyzing the genetic makeup of embryos and, in some instances, oocytes before conception. PGD is comparable to prenatal diagnosis in that it is done before the baby is born. When used to test for a specific congenital condition, its significant benefit is that it prevents selective abortion. In addition, the technique increases the chances that the infant will be free of the ailment in question. PGD supplements assisted reproductive technology that necessitates in vitro fertilization to collect oocytes or embryos for testing. Blastomere or blastocyst biopsy is the most common way to acquire embryos. Because the latter technique is less harmful to the embryo, the biopsy should be done on day 5 or 6 of development. In my opinion, PGD technology is an excellent way to prepare in advance for possible problems and diseases of the child. The technology makes it possible to identify diseases of the embryo, which allows parents to prepare in advance and prevent the disease if possible and necessary.

Moral Principles

The writer concludes in this film that there are some moral qualities such as honesty, courage, love and affection, fairness and justice, and loyalty. According to Gao, “moral ideas and ideas about morality overlap insofar as they both concern morals” (Gao & Wang, 4). In this film, the writer concludes that there are some moral qualities such as courage, love and affection, justice, and loyalty. Courage and loyalty are manifested because Anna allowed her to be used according to her “original purpose” – to help her sister overcome the disease. Love and affection are manifested in the attitude of parents to both daughters. Finally, justice is manifested in Anna’s right to use her body as she sees fit; after extended donor operations, Anna wanted to live everyday life and be a full-fledged person.

Aspects of the ANA Code of Ethics

In terms of conduct, ethics is a concept that explains what is expected in terms of what is proper and correct and what is wrong and incorrect. The American Nurses Association Code of Ethics, for example, holds nurses accountable to ethical standards. According to Olson, “the Code is the nursing profession’s ethical standard of practice, and nursing’s contract with society” (Olson & Stokes, 1). All elements of nursing care are infused with ethics and ethical practice. Utilitarianism and deontology are the two primary categories of ethical principles and ethical philosophy. Deontology is an ethical school of thought that holds that both the methods and the ultimate goal must be moral and ethical, whereas utilitarianism holds that the ultimate goal justifies the methods even if they are immoral. Justice is fairness, according to the viewpoint of ANA depicted in the film. Nurses must be ethical when it comes to allocating care among members of a patient group. Care must be distributed in a fair, reasonable, and equitable manner among a group of patients.

Gao, D., & Wang, D. (2020). Rethinking “Basic Issues” in Moral Education. ECNU Review of Education , 2096531120950322.

Olson, L. L., & Stokes, F. (2016). The ANA code of ethics for nurses with interpretive statements: Resource for nursing regulation. Journal of Nursing Regulation , 7 (2), 9-20.

Warner Bros. (2015). My sister’s keeper – trailer . YouTube. Web.

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“My Sister’s Keeper” by Jodi Picoult Research Paper

Jodi Picoult is a truly remarkable writer, who has been known for her novels, giving important insights into the inner world of her characters, exploring the crucial topics of today, and bringing up important issues. Her novel “My Sister’s Keeper” is being called her “best book to date” (Website) by the readers. Though it is definitely not the fast-paced one, it makes one take his or her time and reflect on the topics, being brought up within it. The author, as a mother has put a lot of her own reflection and her soul into the novel, still giving her readers the opportunity to form their own opinion about the things in the book. The most important is that she managed to put the realities so close and common for mankind within the book, that it simply can not leave the reader indifferent. As within the novel, there are the appeals for both the human in general and American in particular identity presented, revealed in the issue of the hard choice faced by confused people, civil rights defense, people’s relationships, and their ability to go through a hard time in their life.

Firstly, the characters reveal the ethical uniqueness of the nation, benefit to the reflections on the general values, family values. There are ten characters, who operate within the novel. Each of the characters is deeply thought over by the author, to be the one to be thought of, argued about. Take Anna Fitzgerald, she represents the real American spirit, being a thirteen-year-old girl, who sues her parents to defend her civil rights and maintain her kidney. This girl is a real old head on young shoulders. Her sister Kate is the one, who presents compassion to her dear sister and is ready to sacrifice her life for her sister (the reader finally finds out that it is Kate, who tells Anna to sue their parents as she can not live in the hospital anymore). Kate reveals an ethical act towards her sister, ready to abandon her hope for life for her sister’s sake. Parents of the girls are those, who are faced with hard decisions in their life. The reader is most likely to condemn their acts from the very beginning of the book, remembering a plan for “giving birth” to Anna, for their cruelty to a child. Nevertheless, they seem to be desperate people, trying to save their daughter at any cause. This state is close to the author herself, as she confessed in one of her interviews, saying that while her son was ill and was up to be operated on, her other two children knew, that they took second place. It is interesting to notice, that each of the characters has his or her right to say personal opinion, still giving the reader to obtain his own one. The device, used by the author is very democratic towards her readers, as she does not impose anybody to accept her own viewpoint, this looks like a truly American tradition.

Secondly, the themes, brought up within the novel are related closely to the American identity. The main theme, which crops up when one is thinking about this novel, is the civil rights defense. It is a wonder that a young teenage girl managed to pull herself together and sue her parents to maintain control over her body. The ethical choice of her parents is clearly devoted to Kate out of their “utter love for her” (Website). Still, Anna defends her right and the true desire of her sister Kate. The civil rights defense theme seems to have been an applicable issue for America since its discovery and this novel reveals that the topic is still being the question of the day. Apart from civil rights, family ties are another issue, put in the novel. The Fitzgeralds are the family, which comes through many obstacles in their lives. They could give up and live with the flow, but the spirit to resist or even to rebel sometimes dominates within this family. Not giving up sounds like a slogan for this American family with two children one of whom is sick and another one is “born” to be an “exact genetic match for her sister” (Genetically Engineered Teen Rebels, 34). Likewise, any other American family would struggle with the misfortune, as the nation of a strong spirit, living within the nation.

Thirdly, the whole plot of the novel, the devices including the narration, metaphors reveals the orientation of it on a certain reader, who is a confirmed democrat in his soul. The plot of the novel is rather unusual, so it is oriented not on every reader. This book aims at reaching its reader. And only a person, who is really into these problems can understand the message enclosed in it. The message is after being democratic in life while making some choices. The choice, which the characters of the book faced is very hard. From the part of the parents, it is either to make a child give his organs for another child’s sake or to ask what do children want first. The parents’ choice is arrogant, but this choice is opposed by the other one, made by their daughter Anna. Her choice is to decide for herself whether she is to give her kidney or not. The democracy of free choice wins and Anna is free not to give her organ. Still, after the car accident, her kidney is being taken from her. This unexpected turn reveals that her mission on the earth is to be completed. Kate did not want to live at the cost of her sister’s sufferings, but as Anna is dead, Kate has the operation made and lives with the warm recollections of her sister, having the scars from the operation.

Inferring, it is necessary to emphasize that Jodi Picoult is a remarkable author of today, who managed to breathe the spirit of American identity, values, and uniqueness in one of her best books “My sister’s Keeper”. All the characters within the book, starting with principally major to the minor ones are the deeply thought of complex personalities, who inspire a reader of the book to think of them and argue, who benefit to the values of the Americans and manage to go even beyond this. The topics of ethical choices, democratic choices, and civil rights defense are explored throughout the text are the topics, oriented on the truly democratic reader. Finally, the plot, the devices used within the text appeal to the democratic reader. The book is a remarkable novel, making the American identity stand out and its values.

Works Cited

“ Author Profile: Jodi Picoult ” bookreporter.com. 1996. The Book Report, Inc. 2008. Web.
“Freedom’s Advance; Christians Evangelize.” The Washington Times 2007: A02
“Genetically Engineered Teen Rebels.” Sarasota Herald-Tribune 2005: G4.
Jay P. Goldman. “Righting the Ship by Broadening the Base” School Administrator 2005: A63
“ Jodi Picoult. Novels about Family, Relationships and Love “. 2007. Hanover, New Hampshire. 2007. Web.
Jodi Picoult. “My Sister’s Keeper: A Novel”. Washington Square Press. 2005
Chicago (A-D)
Chicago (N-B)

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IvyPanda . 2021. "“My Sister's Keeper” by Jodi Picoult." October 18, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/my-sisters-keeper-by-jodi-picoult/.

1. IvyPanda . "“My Sister's Keeper” by Jodi Picoult." October 18, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/my-sisters-keeper-by-jodi-picoult/.