Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher

This theme is woven into the fabric of the narrative, which follows Jeremy’s journey from childhood innocence to a better understanding of responsibility, sacrifice, and emotional complexity. His interactions with Tiamat serve as the primary vehicle through which this theme is explored, with support from his relationships with others as well. At the beginning of the story, Jeremy is a typical young boy dealing with the everyday challenges of school, bullies, and friendships. He also struggles with feelings of inadequacy, especially regarding his passion for art, and his frustration is compounded by the constant criticism from his unfairly biased art teacher, Mr. Kravitz. However, Jeremy’s discovery of Mr. Elives’s magic shop begins his journey toward maturity. Jeremy’s decision to purchase the dragon egg despite Mr. Elives’s warnings against doing so reflects his youthful innocence and lack of foresight. As Tiamat hatches and grows, Jeremy is thrust into a caregiving role that demands significant responsibility. This newfound duty forces him to make many sacrifices, and he learns to prioritize Tiamat’s needs, often at his own expense, taking is a significant step in his journey toward adulthood. Jeremy’s emotional growth is therefore closely intertwined with his relationship with Tiamat, and his eventual realization that he must let her go for her own sake proves to be a crucial turning point in his development, requiring him to accept that love often requires self-sacrifice for the good of others.