Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher

“He stood to look around. A little prickle ran down his spine. I’ve never seen this street before.”

Jeremy’s realization that he is in an unfamiliar place despite having lived in Blodgett’s Crossing all his life signifies a shift from the mundane to the extraordinary, which is common in many fantasy stories. This moment defines the protagonist’s initial step into Mr. Elives’s magic shop: a world in which ordinary rules do not apply.

“The egg you have just purchased has already gone through a long aging process. It now needs but two things to be ready to hatch—the light of a full moon, and the words of a true friend.”

This quote from the instructions on how to hatch a dragon emphasizes the novel’s recurring themes of magic and of the power of friendship. The requirement for “the words of a true friend” shows the importance of genuine connections and foreshadows the fact that Jeremy will have to work on Overcoming Insecurities through Responsibility as he navigates the practical aspects of raising a dragon and learns more about the social and emotional aspects of forming a true friendship.

“His worries were balanced by the feeling that the whole thing was nothing but a hoax—a joke being played by a weird old man with a warped sense of humor. Even so, Jeremy whispered the hatching poem to himself as he crawled into bed, repeating it until he was sure he had it memorized.”

This moment captures Jeremy’s struggle between rationality and wonder, a common theme in stories of childhood and magic. The passage also highlights Jeremy’s inherent curiosity and eagerness to engage with the possibility of magic in his life. Despite his doubts about the legitimacy of the magical egg, he takes the instructions seriously and is rewarded for his faith in the extraordinary.

“Feeling braver, he reached forward and stroked the dragon’s thumb-sized head. The dragon closed its eyes and made a little chittering noise. Jeremy smiled. He had just made friends with a dragon!”

The tone of sheer delight in this passage shows the beginning of the bond that will grow and develop between Jeremy and Tiamat. The moment also marks the importance of showing bravery in every aspect of life, an idea that is central to the story.

“Eventually your dragon will shed its skin. Do not be alarmed by this. However, you must save the skin, as well as the baby teeth, which will begin to fall out at about the same time. You must also save as much of the eggshell as possible. These things will be very important when Midsummer Night arrives.”

The matter-of-fact tone of the dragon-hatching instructions creates the impression that such an endeavor is just as natural and likely as any other task. The instructions also foreshadow the importance of Midsummer Night and the use of the teeth, skin, and eggshells in the ritual to send Tiamat home, although this ritual is not yet explained. The requirement of saving these items also implies that as Jeremy raises Tiamat, he will need to understand and plan for future challenges in order to ensure her well-being, something that becomes increasingly difficult as the story progresses.

“The only problem was that in almost every story the dragon got killed at the end—usually with good reason, since most of them were extremely nasty. About the only good dragons he had found were Chinese.”

This passage reflects Jeremy dedication to his new task and illustrates his growing understanding of dragons, the cultural perceptions surrounding them, and the differences between perception and reality. Forced to reject many of the more negative depictions of dragons, Jeremy realizes that he must discover for himself what dragons are like rather than relying on the stereotypes he finds in library books.

“Finally Jeremy closed his eyes and thought, as hard as he could: STOP! To his surprise, it worked.”

The moment Jeremy uses his thoughts to command the dragon, her obedience demonstrates the depth of their connection and reinforces the idea that their relationship carries strong mental and emotional components. The scene also shows that Jeremy’s role as Tiamat’s caretaker requires him to go beyond providing mere physical nourishment, for he must also learn to manage the dragon’s behavior and needs by exercising his own emotional strength.

“Was it possible that [his mother] couldn’t see [the dragon]? The idea was strange—but no stranger than the dragon itself.”

Because Tiamat is invisible to most people, Jeremy remains unable to share the details of his extraordinary experience, and this dynamic emphasizes the isolation that he feels as he faces the challenge of caring for the dragon without the help or understanding of most of the people around him. This realization also increases the tension and emphasizes the weight of Jeremy’s responsibility.

“Jeremy frowned. If he wanted to communicate with the dragon, he was going to have to learn to think in pictures. Probably not a bad habit for someone who wanted to be an artist. But it was going to take a lot of practice before they could ‘talk’ easily.”

Jeremy’s realization that he needs to think in pictures to communicate effectively with Tiamat aligns with his aspirations to be an artist and suggests the deeper connection between his personal interests and his responsibility to the dragon. The necessity for exercising patience in developing this new form of communication also follows the broader theme of Overcoming Insecurities through Responsibility.

“He stroked Tiamat’s tiny head and wondered once again how big she was going to get. Though he hadn’t really meant it as a question, she answered him anyway. And the image that formed in his mind left no doubt what the answer was. BIG!”

This quote shows that even when Tiamat is small, Jeremy is already thinking ahead to the challenges that await. The biggest challenge of raising a dragon for Jeremy comes from the fact that dragons eventually grow to be enormous. As Tiamat grows, Jeremy knows that it will become harder to feed and house her. This eventual reality is a major reason for her inevitable departure to her own world, and her growth serves as a constant and increasing source of conflict as the story unfolds.

“Tiamat poked her head over the edge of the sock drawer. A comfortable swirl of yellow flowed into Jeremy’s mind. But then, maybe I’ve got a new best friend, he thought with a smile.”

Tiamat’s bond with Jeremy is firmly grounded in vivid imagery and color, inspiring him to take his own artistic talents to new heights. Her presence also offers him solace and companionship during a time when he feels alienated from his human friends. The “comfortable swirl of yellow” symbolizes warmth and safety, contrasting with the isolation that he feels because of his increasingly strained relationship with Spess.

“Jeremy wanted to say, ‘This is what I see. It’s what’s inside me.’ But before he could find the courage to speak, Mr. Kravitz slapped his hand against the desk.”

Through Jeremy’s art, he finds a unique way to express the magical experience that he is currently experiencing, and he also expands his own attempts at creativity. However, Mr. Kravitz’s rigid expectations of what art should entail ultimately stifle this creative urge and demonstrate the man’s severe limitations as a teacher. The interaction illustrates the primary conflict between these two characters, which revolves around the struggle between imagination and conventional expectations. At this moment, Jeremy still has difficulty communicating his feelings, especially to someone who refuses to make the effort to understand him.

“With a resounding crash, everything—plates, candles, silverware, and food—fell to the floor. Grief ran howling from the room. Jeremy looked at the clock. Dinner had started at 6:30. It had taken only until 6:32 to turn the room into a total shambles.”

This quote is describes the disastrous climax of the much-dreaded dinner party with the Huttons, due to the chaos caused by Tiamat. The description of the disaster shows the difficulty of Jeremy’s ongoing attempts to manage Tiamat’s presence while trying to maintain a semblance of normalcy. The swift descent into chaos also adds a touch of humor and drama to the narrative, for only Jeremy and Mary Lou are fully aware of what is happening.

“[Tiamat believed that Jeremy] felt bad, and he needed her here. I feel fine! insisted Jeremy. But it’s hard to lie when you’re communicating with thoughts instead of words. He didn’t feel fine, and they both knew it. So Tiamat stayed.”

Jeremy’s attempt to lie about his feelings to Tiamat is futile because their connection transcends verbal communication. However, the importance of learning to verbalize his feeling is also critical to Jeremy’s character arc. Although he cannot hide his emotions from the dragon, his habit of concealing them from the people around him is contributing to his social isolation.

“‘I don’t want any of this green sky and pink grass stuff that some of you like to do,’ he said. ‘And I don’t want any of this fantasy stuff,’ continued Mr. Kravitz, as Tiamat began to breathe on his foot. ‘No dragons, or any nonsense like that.’”

This quote highlights Mr. Kravitz’s unimaginative approach to art, which contrasts with Jeremy’s own creative spirit. By dismissing imaginative elements like dragons and forbidding his students to fully exercise their creativity, Mr. Kravitz attempts to impose a narrow definition of acceptable art. Jeremy’s silent defiance, manifested through Tiamat’s actions, is representative of the rebellion of imagination against such constraints.

“Jeremy stared at the note in distress. He had always guessed that Tiamat would have to go home sooner or later. Part of him had even been eager for that to happen; certainly life would be simpler without a dragon to care for. But another part of him had hidden from the idea. He had never really prepared himself to cope with the thought of her leaving.”

This quote captures the essence of Jeremy’s complicated feelings about his life with Tiamat. While the rational part of him recognizes the practicality of her going home, his emotional side is deeply attached to her and does not wish to let her go. This internal conflict underscores the importance of learning to let go and the bittersweet nature of The Mutual Benefits of Caregiving.

“The time came when this world was no longer safe for dragons. Earth had too many heroes, too many swords-and not enough magic. One by one, the great dragons were being slaughtered.”

This quote from Miss Priest’s book provides a crucial backstory on the fate of dragons in the world of Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher by expounding upon the origins of the Company of Hatchers. The passage shows that Earth is a world that is dangerous for dragons because magic itself—and people’s acceptance of it—is dwindling. This historical context explains why Tiamat’s presence is so significant, and why getting her home is so important.

“The dragon was a part of him now. He was used to her constant presence in his mind, the never-absent play of colors at the back of his head that spoke to him of her moods. He loved those colors. They were starting to show up in his art, making it richer and stronger than it had ever been before.”

By this point, Tiamat’s presence has become an integral part of Jeremy’s life and identity. Through the constant intensity of their emotional and telepathic link, she influences his emotions and even his art, and he has come to rely upon the constant “play of colors” through their mental link, savoring the emotional and creative enrichment she has brought. This bond is so strong that the thought of losing her feels like losing a part of himself.

“‘Do you really believe that I hate you?’ he asked. Jeremy hesitated. Probably he should just say no, and let it go. But he had come too far now to drop the matter. He had put the truth as he felt it in the open. He had to stand by it. Summoning all his courage, he looked back at Mr. Kravitz and nodded.”

In this scene, Jeremy finally gains the courage to stand by his feelings and openly confront his teacher. This decision shows the character growth and self-awareness that Jeremy has gained over the course of the story, and by openly questioning his teachers’ behavior, he ceases feeling victimized and actively takes control of his life. Likewise, Mr. Kravitz’s sudden vulnerability exposes his own complexities and flaws.

“Did you really choose me? he asked. She replied with a flood of warm assurance. Why? I liked the colors in your head. I knew we could share beautiful pictures. She poked her head, which was as big as a horse’s, over his shoulder. I will miss you.”

This exchange between Jeremy and Tiamat highlights the depth of their bond and the mutual appreciation that they feel for each other. Tiamat’s choice of Jeremy based on the “colors in his head” emphasizes the importance of his creativity and the true depths of his artistic talent.

“Nothing you love is lost. Not really. Things, people—they always go away, sooner or later. You can’t hold them, any more than you can hold moonlight. But if they’ve touched you, if they’re inside you, then they’re still yours. The only things you ever really have are the ones you hold inside your heart.”

Miss Priest’s words of wisdom and encouragement provide the grief-stricken Jeremy with a critical lesson on the nature of love and loss, emphasizing the enduring impact of meaningful connections. These words are meant to reassure him that the essence of cherished people endure regardless of whether that person remains present.

“‘Let her go, Hatcher,’ she cried. ‘She’ll die, trapped between two worlds. If you love her, you have to let her go.’ A great sob tore from Jeremy’s throat. Go! he thought. Go home! And then it was over.”

Miss Priest’s plea to Jeremy to let Tiamat go shows that the ultimate act of love is putting the well-being of another over one’s own emotional needs. The intensity of this scene is designed to dramatize this lesson in the most visceral way possible, for Jeremy’s desire to remain with Tiamat prevents her from moving forward and in fact endangers her very life. By extension, Bruce Coville also implies that by rejecting the inevitability of change, people hamper their own growth and reject the possibilities offered by the next stage in life. Faced with this harsh truth, Jeremy realizes that to keep Tiamat with him would be selfish.

“When Miss Priest saw him she smiled. Reaching into her cape, she withdrew a ring and slipped it onto her left hand. In the light of the bonfire, Jeremy could see that the stone set in the ring’s top was a tear-shaped diamond.”

Miss Priest’s gesture with the ring, featuring a dragon’s tear of her own, suggests that she, too, was once a Hatcher. She, more than anyone else, understands the emotional anguish that he has experienced, and her gesture proves that the wisdom she has given him comes from a place of experience.