Friendship is one of the most important and valuable things in our life because it measures a good person. Friendship is essential for the successful wellbeing of every person. It is based on the simple rules of trust and honesty. A true friend is a person you can always count on when you face challenges and serious problems. He or she always offers a shoulder to cry on in case something wrong happens. Your soulmate always listens to your problems, gives you good piece of advice, and never talks behind your back. A true friend is never envious of your accomplishments and achievements. This person respects you and keeps all your secrets. You can always tell your trusted friend your flaws and be sure that your revelations are safe. A good friend is always loyal to you and never lets you down. Being trustworthy is a very important factor in any friendship. A true friendship is a reward for all the good we do in our life. A true friend is there for you in the times of need, makes you smile when you forgot how to, and lift you up when you cannot not lift up yourself. In the novel, The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick, Hugo makes a lifelong friendship with Isabelle which proves how important and valuable it is to Hugo and anyone in today’s society.
Throughout the beginning of The Invention of Hugo Cabret, it is pretty clear to see Hugo does not have too many friends. Not only does Hugo not have many friends, but he also does not seem to have much of a family. His dad died when he was younger, so Hugo was stuck living with his drunk uncle. It is very unfortunate, but Hugo’s uncle also dies in the novel which means he is practically on his own. Once Hugo finally meets someone his age, Isabelle, they do not get off to the best start. There is a lot of arguing back and forth which causes them to be running away from each other. In The Invention of Hugo Cabret, Isabelle states, “I’m trying to help you. Why are being so mean” (Selznick 168). Hugo is not used to having friends anymore and when Isabelle comes along, he even gets mad at her for trying to help him. It might take him a while before he is ready to accept help and affection. As you can see, there is a lot of tragedy and drama throughout this novel. But despite Hugo and Isabelle’s rocky beginnings, they cannot help but rely on each other as they embark on the adventure of figuring out Papa Georges’s secrets. In the journal article, An Examination of Reciprocal Associations Between Social Preference, Popularity, and Friendship during Early Adolescence, it is stated, “The majority of young adolescents have at least one mutual friendship and many have numerous mutual friends. However, there is considerable variability in the qualities of youth’s friendships such that some friendships are more positive or conflict ridden than others” (Stotsky and Bowker 1831). This quote works perfectly with their friendship because it turns out very positive for the both of them. So, it is no surprise then, that by the end of The Invention of Hugo Cabret, these two are not just friends. Hugo and Isabella are family.
True friends are worth more than all the treasures of the world. Friendship is doing your best to make your friend happy. Friendship is forever, no matter what. It is the most wonderful relationship that every person can have if he or she is loyal, dependable, kind, caring, and loving. True friends try to avoid conflicts and do everything possible to make their relations stronger. Some people even make sacrifices and risk their lives for a friend. In The Invention of Hugo Cabret, the author states, “Etienne works at the movie theater near my home. He sneaks me in because Papa Georges won’t allow me to see any movies” (Selznick 172). From this quote, it is clear that Isabelle has friends and is willing to introduce them to Hugo. When Etienne comes along, he invites them both to the movies and it is Hugo's first experience with bonding people he can call “friends.” Isabelle is trying to make her friendship with Hugo stronger by making him feel comfortable around her friends. We can compare this to people in today’s society when friends of friends are introduced to each other. This shows a strong compatibility within a friendship and Hugo and Isabella are starting to sense that.
In today’s society, a true friend can be described as one who never deserts you and is your inseparable companion in the time of happiness and sorrow. However, it is necessary to judge people correctly in order to make the right choice of a true friend. We should be very careful as there are a lot of people who can easily deceive others in order to gratify their self-interest and achieve their aims (Liberman and Shaw 2147). This person should help you move on the right path. You should be patient and have a sense of tolerance to maintain a good friendship. There should be no suspicion and no disbelief in such kind of relationship. In The Invention of Hugo Cabret, Selznick writes, “Eventually, with no customers and nothing else to say, Isabelle tended to the loose ends of Hugo’s bandages and took out a book. She began reading” (370). From this quote, it is evident that Hugo and Isabelle have to join forces to keep the toy booth open and buy medicine for Papa Georges. After Hugo and Isabelle spend all day together, they start to get along. As stated before, in a friendship, the other person will help you move on the right path and that is exactly what Isabelle is doing with Hugo. She is not only helping Papa Georges, but also helping Hugo to do a good deed. She is showing him how to make the right choices and in today’s societies that is what true friendships are all about.
A true friendship is something that cannot be expressed with words. Friendship is being able to cry together. Friendship is being foolish together. It is being mad at each other. True friends are always ready to protect each other from being hurt emotionally and physically. It takes time and patience to build a strong friendship and achieve trust between two soulmates (Patel 990). It is very important to have somebody with whom you can share your thoughts freely. In The Invention of Hugo Cabret, it is written, “Between Hugo’s injured hand and Isabelle’s sprained foot, it was extremely difficult for them to get up the staircase and the ladder, but they each helped each other and at last they came to the glass clocks that overlooked the city” (Selznick 375). After reading this quote, it is clear to see they are trusting and helping each other out. Both Hugo and Isabelle are enduring some type of physical pain, but the fact that they are together cancels out that pain. Hugo even shows Isabelle the view of the city from the glass clocks. This is something that he has never showed anyone else before. It is obvious that he considers her a friend by now because friends share moments like these.
A good friendship is very difficult to come across. In the end, Hugo has everything that he wanted. He has a family, a place to fix and make things, and most of all, friends that he can rely on. That is why we should appreciate this divine relationship that is based on understanding and feelings. There are a lot of benefits of friendship. We need friends to live happily. Lasting friendship is a blessing for everybody. We do not have to pretend to be someone else when we spend time with our friends. They give us total freedom to be who we really are. We should be grateful to people who make us happy. A true friend is one of the most precious possessions that one can have in his life.