So, who's your favorite? Or, who's your least favorite? Pick a character you find intriguing for either positive or negative reasons and discuss his/her development thus far in the novel. Any predictions for this character?
Please pick someone you feel is important -- p.s. textual evidence will help you support that idea.
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7 comments:
Right now in this novel, both the most interesting and my favorite character is Sapo. This is because at the beginning of the novel and throughout his youth, Sapo's attitude towards those around him was that he didn't need their approval and it didn’t matter to him what whey thought. "Sapo was the same around everybody, it didn’t matter if it was the president of the United States or some junkie, Sapo was himself." (P.8) Here it is evident that Sapo doesn’t search for the approval of others. He is himself no matter who is around. What interests me is how as I got deeper into the novel, I noticed how Sapo seemed to changed from this attitude a bit. Around most people it was the same but when Sapo was with Bodega it seemed that he acted differently. Sapo seems more respectful towards Bodega and cares about how Bodega sees him. "I told him, 'Nah Chino is cool. You'll like him. He's a cool Guy and smart. He goes to Huntah.' Shit like that, and then when he meets you for the job, you get all fucked up, laugh in his face, and don’t take the job. Do you know how that," Sapo said, jabbing a finger in has chest, "Reflects on me?"(P. 40) Here it is clear that Sapo cares what Bodega thinks of him as opposed to around most other people when Sapo doesn’t care about what they think. Sapo is becoming attached to Bodega and Bodega's hopes for Spanish Harlem.
James Ackley
I like Sapo the best. I like him because he is independent and he doesn't take any isht from anybody. People don't really affect his thoughts or personality as a whole, and I admire that characteristic. Even though Sapo gets into a lot of trouble and the reader finds himself in bad situations, such as when he bites Blessington, he feels as though every action is justified and doesn't care how people view him as a person. "'Sapo, bro, what you gonna do?'
'I could give to kufcs,' he said. 'I never felt better. It's as if I let some fnkeuc courier pigeon go free,'" (91).
Knowing how much trouble he is going to be in, I admire that Sapo stays completely independent and just doesn't care at all. He's very laid back and doesn't care what people think about him. "I loved Sapo because he loved himself. And I wanted to be able to do that, to rely on myself for my own happiness," (3).
-dark and delicious
^tony
I find Blanca most intriguing. Her beliefs seem to completely contrast the ideas of the other characters in the story, especially Bodega and Sapo. It seems as though Chino is constantly influenced by the contrasting qualities of both Bodega and Blanca, both very different characters. He almost seems caught in the middle between wanting to live his life more like Bodega or in contrast, Blanca. Blanca seems to be the most pure character of all the characters, but is still mysterious in her ways. She has quite an effect over Chino. He is constantly worried about her and about losing her, even though he continues to involve himself with Bodega’s plans. “I didn’t know what I had done to deserve Blanca but I wasn’t about to ask. I was afraid fate would backtrack and look for errors and take Blanca away” (66). If he’s so concerned about losing her, he shouldn’t allow himself to be pulled into Bodega’s scheming.
-mk reynolds
At this point, I absolutely hate Sapo, or Enrique or whatever his name is. I don't understand why the narrator, Julio, has such a fascination with Sapo; saying things like "I loved Sapo. I loved Sapo because he loved himself" (85). Is Julio trying to say that he admires Sapo so strongly only because he is independent. I don't admire how Sapo does as he pleases and doesn't think of how his actions affect others. He is constantly asking Julio "I have a shitload of stuff, can I leave it wi'choo Chino?" (68). And Julio always accepts his demands but never seems to receive anything in return. These two characters are portrayed as best friends growing up, but based on how Sapo uses Julio, insults his wife, and gets him involved in the dangerous drug business with Willie Bodega, I can't consider him to be Julio's actual friend. I predict that Sapo's actions are going to hurt him in the future because someone is going want to be rid of him and his lies.
-Allie Nix
My favorite character in the novel is Blanca and I have a feeling she will play an even bigger role in the novel than she already does. Just like her name, she represents all that is good and pure in the society they live in. Although she is beautiful and all the guys want her, she still holds on to her morals as well as that bible. For example, in school, "she always carried a bible with her and never talked bad about anyone" (9). This good christian personality is reflected in her adult life through going to church everyday and always wanting to help the less fortunate. If everyone in their neighborhood had the same morals as Blanca the place would sure be different. I agree with Kathy in that i also feel bad for her. She loves Chino and doesn't want him getting into trouble or getting mixed up with the wrong crowd. Blanca almost represents Chino's consious in that she is always on his mind, or maybe standing on his shoulder like a white angel. For example, when he considers getting involved with Bodega, he thinks "part of me really wanted to be there, to be a part of it. But I had Blanca and the baby to think about" (38). I predict that Blanca will continue to be the white or "blanca" light in Chino's life and will guide him towards what is right. Even if she has to repremand him it is always in his best interest and he should always listen to what she wants him to do in the future.
-MEGHAN DOHERTY :)
Tapia is an interesting character, because the author decided to create him as a role model for all of the young students. Tapia was well liked by all of his students, and according to the author, the principle tries to make Tapia the gym teacher "in hopes of cutting down Tapia's influence" over the young students. The students can relate to him more than their white teachers, and Tapia would make speeches that were "fiery and full of passion." Tapia also wisely advises Sapo on how to handle his situation with Mr. BLessington, which shows . Tapia directly foils the English teacher, Mr. Blessington, who puts down the students rather than helping them like Tapia does.
- Tom Barnes
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