logo

54 pages 1 hour read

Petey

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 1998

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Character Analysis

Petey Corbin

Petey Corbin is the primary protagonist of Petey, and the novel follows the course of his life. Petey is sent to Warm Springs Insane Asylum at two years old and resides in institutions for the duration of his 70 years. Petey was born with cerebral palsy, but he does not receive a correct diagnosis of his condition until he is transferred out of Warm Springs. Due to the severity of his particular presentation of cerebral palsy, Petey is profoundly physically disabled, capable of only minimal physical movement on his own and incapable of developing his coordination over time. Petey requires constant hands-on care for all aspects of his daily needs. As a child, he is presumed to be intellectually disabled but manages to develop into a neurotypical adult despite the neglect in education and individualized attention most children require during their formative years. Petey can speak one to three words at a time. The impact of his disability on the muscles of his tongue prevents him from stringing together longer sentences and pronouncing words with the typical diction associated with verbal language. Speech requires effort for Petey, and his lack of fine motor control also presents significant obstacles for him in chewing and swallowing if he is not fed carefully.

blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
Unlock IconUnlock all 54 pages of this Study Guide

Plus, gain access to 8,600+ more expert-written Study Guides.

Including features:

+ Mobile App
+ Printable PDF
+ Literary AI Tools