Question

Stanley was not a bad kid. He was innocent of the crime for which he was convicted. He’d just been in the wrong place at the wrong time.

It was all because of his no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather!

He smiled. It was a family joke. Whenever anything went wrong, they always blamed Stanley’s no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather.

—Holes,
Louis Sachar

Read this passage.

Even though Stanley had been wrongly accused of a crime, "he smiled." What does this tell you about Stanley's character?

Answer 1

Stanley's smile in the face of his wrongful conviction suggests that he possesses a sense of resilience and humor, even in difficult circumstances. It indicates that he has a positive outlook on life, choosing to find lightness in a situation that most would find distressing. The reference to the family joke about his “no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather” shows that he values family traditions and shared humor, which can help him cope with adversity. This reveals a deeper layer of his character: he is likely to be optimistic and able to maintain a sense of identity and connection to his family, despite the challenges he faces. Overall, Stanley's character comes across as someone who is able to retain hope and find joy even when things are tough.