The Neverending Story

How do Bastian's qualitys change or develop throughout the story

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Bastian secludes himself in the attic of the schoolhouse and begins to read the book. He quickly becomes fascinated by the book's hero, Atreyu, who embodies all the qualities Bastian would himself like to have. Bastian is jealous of Atreyu's qualities and wishes to be stronger, braver, handsomer, more admired, and more powerful. Bastian is surprised when the fulfillment of these wishes fails to win him Atreyu's undying admiration; in fact, Bastian's greed for domination and need to avenge himself against the world loses him Atreyu's friendship. Alone and friendless again, Bastian realizes that his desire to be better than everyone else has again made him an outcast. Finally, Bastian is ready to begin the long journey toward changing himself. Along the way, he learns to forgive himself for his previous, immature wishes when Dame Eyola explains that such wishes were a necessary part of his path to maturity. In the end, Bastian learns to love himself for who he is, and in so doing, makes it possible for others to love him as well.