Milo's Change - The Phantom Tollbooth

Character Question: Does the character develop any new traits?      


        In the book, The Phantom Tollbooth, Milo definitely develops new traits as the story, and his journey, progresses. In the beginning of the book, he was an unhappy, ungrateful boy. He didn't care about learning or gaining knowledge. He didn't show an interest in school, or anything for that matter. He rushed home from school everyday, not caring to look up at the people and shops in his neighborhood. He had very many toys- but he always got bored and never wanted to play with any of them.
      
        Then, one day, Milo notices something unusual in his bedroom - a box containing a tollbooth and a car. He studies it, and decides to follow the directions that came along with it, because he had nothing better to do. First, he ends up driving to foreign places called "Dictionopolis" and "Expectations" where he meets The 'Whether' Man and The Doldrums. Milo starts to get interested in them, asking who they are, where they are now, and why they act the way they do. Milo starts becoming more curious in other people and things. He also shows that he is curious when he is at the Market Place, exploring all the different words and combinations he could create.
       
        Another character trait I saw Milo develop was he became more caring. For instance, when the watchdog/his best friend, Tock, is talking about the sad way he got his name, Milo wants to change the subject because he knows it is a very sensitive topic for Tock to speak about.
        
        Milo also becomes selfless and optimistic on the journey. When he and Tock are put into jail for causing confusion at the Market Place, he confronts The 'Which' and listens to her story about why she is in jail. After hearing her story, Milo is motivated to rescue Rhyme and Reason, the two girls who could save Dictionopolis and The Which. Milo believes that he can make it up to the Castle in the Sky, where the girls live. He believes he could make it - all while risking his own life. This journey has definitely changed him so far, because I know he would've never thought to do this if he was the selfish way he was, back at the beginning of the book. 
          
        Most of all, I think Milo has become a very brave character. He was brave to take the risk to come to this new world, he was brave to ask so many questions, even when he would get yelled at, and he was brave to risk his own life to go on a journey to save others. 
        
          In conclusion, Milo has developed many new character traits on his journey in this creative, unique land. He has gone from closed-minded to open. He's gone from disinterested to appreciative of the simple things, like the words around him. He's gone from a being pessimistic to looking at the world in a brighter way.