Remember that character you picked halfway through the novel? The one that was either your favorite or your least favorite? Revisit that character and discuss now having read the entire novel if that character still maintains your original opinion. Support why or why not.
In addition, please comment on which character plays the most significant role in the entire novel. If you had to pick just one, regardless of your opinion of favorite/least favorite, who would you say drives the novel and that without this character the novel would not work? Support your opinion.
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28 comments:
Sapo was my favorite character in the begining because of his daring lifestyle, but my oppinion changed after he went into hiding for the murder he committed. Sapo lost the spot of my favorite character, as I liked him for his adventurous lifestyle and now he is in hiding afraid to be seen. He could have continued to be my favorite character if he had continued to be seen, as that risky behavior was what made me his favorite character.
I find Vera to be the most significant character in the novel. Without her nothing would have occured. If there was no Vera Bodega would not have bothered to build up an empire and Chino would not have gone anywhere. Also, Vera caused all of the drama because all of the deaths that occured came from her love triangles and the men that were trying to have a relationship with her.
Mike Aisenberg
While some of my predictions about Nazario were incorrect, since the public did not like him any more or less after Bodega's death, he still proved himself to be my favorite character in the end. He revealed himself to truly be the genius of the organization, after the execution of his brilliantly developed plan.
Early on, I figured that Nazario knew much more than he was letting Chino know, and I was not disappointed. He strung everyone-Chino, Sapo, and most importantly Bodega- along, then tore everyone's carefully constructed illusions down in one fell swoop. The only thing which prevented Nazario from gaining complete victory was Chino's decisive visit to the police, resulting in his arrest. Even imprisonment might not ruin him completely; if "Bodega could still run things from his cell"(203), then so could Nazario. If the story were to continue, it would probably chronicle his slow, calculating rise back to power.
Despite Nazario's accomplishments, I would have to agree with Nicole in saying that Vera plays the most important role in the story. Vera was the reason for Nazario's plans, and the reason why they were executed in such a fashion as to leave him the last man standing. Nazario was the one who truly loved and was loved by Vera. She was the reason he played along with "Bodega's" dream, to give himself influence in order to win her over. Both Bodega and Chino would have been unnecessary without Vera, and the story would have been incomplete.
William Frankian
My least favorite character in the first half was Nazario, and my dislike for him was further confirmed in the second half. Nazario lied to Chino (except for Vera) and killed Bodega! I felt awful for Bodega because he thought Vera was in love with him and he believed he was going to get her for the rest of his life. That whole twenty years he was depressed and schemeing to get Vera back, all the while was decieving Bodega. To me he came of as heartless.
I feel that Vera was the most significant to the plot of the novel. without Vera Chino would not have gotten involved with Bodega, Bodega would not have re-built the Spanish Harlem, and NAzario would not have shot Bodega. Everyone would have been happy campers. Bodega would not be crying over Vera. Chino would not be crying over Blanca because he would not have been involved with Bodega and they would still be together. Nazario would not have been secretly plotting and of course crying over Vera. The novel without Vera would have been pretty mellow.
I originally choose Sapo as my favorite character due to the fact that he was fearless and provided action and drama to the story. After reading the rest of the book, Sapo has become my least favorite character. Sapo disappeared after committing murder, no longer the fearless character he was at the beginning of the story. Sapo remained manipulative, as he continued to use Chino to store his “stuff”. Although Julio tries to distance himself from Bodega, Sapo continuously shows up to drive him places, and Julio reluctantly goes because “Sapo had never done anything to hurt me” (150).
I think the character that plays the most significant role in the entire novel is Vera. Vera was Bodega’s inspiration behind his vision, thus acting as Bodega’s motivation to reinvent Spanish Harlem and to show Vera he was more than just a “dreamer”. Vera plays a limited role in the beginning of the story, but later emerges as the most significant character. Vera is the tie between Bodega and the narrator of the story, Julio, and thus the reason for them meeting. Without Vera there is no basis for the book, because it is Vera who causes all the conflict in the story. The drama between Julio and Blanca is caused because he has to lie to his wife about Bodega. Nazario ends up killing Bodega in order to have Vera. Without Vera, there would be peace in Spanish Harlem, and a very boring book.
-Matt F
Halfway through the book, i viewed Vera as my favorite character. I found her the most intriguing and i felt like she would most likely have an important role in the rest of the book. I still think she was very important to the novel; however, she is far from my favorite, based on personality. Once i found out about her true reason for coming back, i could not view her in the same way.
Like Will and Nicole, i feel that Vera played the most important role in the entire novel. From the beginning, she was the reason behind everything. She caused Bodega to try to rebuild the neighborhood. And, though it was unknown throughout the novel, she also caused Nazario to form his plan. Without Vera, the most important events in the novel would not have taken place. Chino would never have needed to come in contact with Bodega, and he would have gone on living his life without any hope of change coming to the neighborhood. Vera caused almost every event in the novel.
-Alex Cammarata
Bodega
Blanca was my favorite character in the begining of the novel and she remained it through the second half of the novel. She continues o be Chino opposite to keep him out of trouble and she always throughout the novel no matter what the situation stood strong to her morals she never flip flopped on anything throughout the novel. Through the ring, vera, chino, the fire, and the situation with Miquel Vazquez. She always stuck to what was right and for that she is my favorite chracter.
I would say that Sapo plays the most significant role in the novel. He is always the one who is dragging Chino into the sitautions with Bodega and has the cloud of the Salazzar murder around him. Without Sapo Chino would mot have gotten as involved with Bodega as he had and that is why Sapo in the novels most important character.
-Ross A
My favorite character Sapo remained the same throughout the entire book. I think that as the book went on, the idea of him being completely independent of what others thought strengthened tremendously. He played a huge function in the novel and was consistent about never caring about what other people thought. He continued to speak his mind and he never backed down. "'And as for what I stand for? I stand for myself. One man. Above God. With liberty and just enough patience with your nufkec social conscience isht to kick yo' a$$ out of my car.'" (167). This quote said by Sapo shows exactly what he stands for and that independence is everything to him.
I feel that the most important character in the novel was Bodega. Without him there would be nothing in the story. There would be no dreams inspiring the Latin community of East Harlem and the community would be a little more hectic without him. Nazario would have simply married Vera or gotten together with her without much of an issue at all. Even though Vera ties everything in, without Bodega there wouldn't be anything to tie in.
-Tony Lorenzi
The character that I found most interesting was Blanca and I still find her pretty interesting. I was unsure who Chino would stay true to by the end of the novel, Blanca or Bodega, and surprisingly it seemed that he stayed true to Bodega. As much as he loved Blanca, he appeared more preoccupied with Bodega and his death and invested more in Bodega’s dreams than he did with the dreams of his own wife. I thought Blanca was pretty simple-minded until she was talking to Claudia and Roberto and hinted to Chino that she wanted to know the truth about his scheming with Bodega when she says “’Let everyone know the truth. If they hear it out of someone else’s mouth then you will be ridiculed’” (163). After she said this, I thought she had become the cleverest character in the novel. Even though Chino was afraid to tell Blanca the truth in fear that he would lose her, I think she would’ve had more respect for him if he had told her the truth.
I think Bodega drives the novel because the development of his character was most surprising to me. Considering that I thought this book would pretty much completely parallel the Great Gatsby I was surprised to read that so many people had attended his funeral. I thought everything he had done for the people of the Spanish Harlem would be underappreciated after he died. In the end, he proved to be the “good guy” that people would remember in a positive way. I think the development of his character was essential to the progression of the novel. At first, I thought his methods of gaining power were only for power and money, but after finishing the book, I think it was just the opposite and I believe him when he had said all he wanted in exchange from those he helped was loyalty. In the end, those he helped were in fact loyal, and because of that his dreams came true.
-mk reynolds
Chino is alright I guess. I think he's still weird and I don't completely understand his involvement in bodega's affairs in the first place, but the close of the novel showed that he has some good qualities. He was able to turn Nazario in which took a lot of courage. And although it did not work out in his favor, he told Blanca the truth which was something he had been fearing(with good reason).
Jackie Cole
Halfway through the novel, Sapo was my favorite character. However, my opinion of him after reading the rest of the story has changed. He now has become my least favorite character, where he does not live up to his previous interesting and bold character. During the first half of the book, Sapo provides a sense of suspense and mystery to the readers, whereas later on, he becomes somewhat boring and uneventful. Instead of the courageous Sapo seen before, his character disappears and runs away from his fears of getting caught for the murder of the newscaster. However, his manipulative ways are still strongly portrayed, where he still continuously almost ‘uses’ Chino for a place to hide his drugs. Yet, he still remained Chino’s friend, where Sapo “had always been around” when Chino “needed someone to watch my back” (150). Some could see this different behavior of Sapo as him growing up and becoming more mature, but he still is fairly dependent on Bodega, where he almost changes Sapo’s independent ways.
Even though Vera was not seen as much as a character, physically, as the novel continued on, she was introduced as one of the major characters. Because of Vera, Bodega strived to make his many goals come true, where she provided a sort of drive for him to succeed. This success caused him the wealth he wanted Vera to see him as having, so he made all ends possible to make this happen. Vera’s character is the true source in the novel’s many conflicts during Bodega’s strife to recover the Spanish Harlem and get Vera back into his life. She is seen as the connection to the weaving of the other characters, which also ends in deaths and quarrels of many as well. Her existence causes the murder of Bodega and the weakened marriage of Chino and Blanca. She seems almost to be replacing Sapo, where he once provided drama and mystery to the story. Without the strong character of Vera, Quinonez’s novel would be without hope, dreams, and the betrayal between many of the characters involved.
-Emily
Stephanie Alkhatib
In the beginning of the novel, Nazario was my least favorite character. And now after finishing the novel, he still is. I dislike him because of his "lawyer thing" that Chino describes, when he covers something over with meaningless sophisticated words, as to hide the truth from everybody but himself. The thing that maintains my dislike for him the most, however, is the way he plays people, like how he did with Chino and all the people of El Barrio. When Chino's building goes up in flames, Nazario emerges almost like a Christ-like Savior, solving problems for a very panic-stricken crowd. At the end of the novel, after Bodega's death, Chino realized that it was Nazario that lit the building on fire as part of his plan to put blame on Fischman, which he needed to do in order to blame him again for Willie's death, which he planned ahead of time. He also tricked Chino and Bodega, using them to get Vera, who knew of some of the plan as well. Overall, he is an evil being, and therefore maintains the opinion I have of him.
I think Nazario is the most significant character of the novel. He was behind Willie's death, which was the climax of the story. Without him, the story would not have had any plot or changes, like Willie would still be alive. Also Chino would not be as involved with Bodega, because Nazario's elaborate plan needed him to get to Vera, and fool him into believing Fischman was the ultimate antagonist.
As before, i still pick vera as my favorite character, and also, i chose her as the most asignificant character also. She is a mystery throughout the book, and the main character of the novel, Bodega, only involves himself with julio in order to get to his live Vera. The only time the reader witnesses vera's presence is when she is with Bodega. She is never without him, even though she is barely present in scenes of the novel. Its weird to see how Vera makes the biggest impact on the novel, and yet she is the only character that we do not know much about, besides anything Bodega has told. She is the main subject in the novel, making her the most significant character in the novel.
Throughout the duration of the second half of the novel, Blanca's character was able to maintain my favoritism. I still find her contradictory in herself--in that, she stays with Chino & puts up with him (until, of course, the police come to the door). The thing is that Blanca knows what kind of neighborhood she lives in, & Chino has made it pretty obvious that he is up to something. The fact that she puts up with it for so long exemplifies the influence that "the streets" have on her; though she is Pentecostal, El Barrio is still her home & she realizes that she'll simply have to live with its entailments until she gets out.
As far as the character of most significance goes, I'm going to have to place that title on Vera. She was the incitement for both Bodega & Nazario's dreams & aspirations. Without her, they would most likely still have their dreams, being that they were part of the Young Lords, & such dreams don't just die--but they would probably just not be as strong. They would not be the Bodega & Nazario that everyone looks to for help, they'd just be the types that would follow should another revolution emerge. Without Vera, I doubt there would be much of a story at all.
However, I think Bodega could be considered as most important as well. Without Bodega, Nazario would have no obstacles between him & Vera (besides her husband) & there simply would be no story. The same goes for Nazario--without him, there wouldn't really be an antagonist to twist the end of the story. I still stick with Vera as the character of most importance, however--Bodega & Nazario are just characters to consider.
Kathy Kendall
The character I originally picked was Nene and as I feared in my first post my opinion of him changed greatly. He is no longer my favorite character. I never would have guessed that he was the one who killed Salazar, but I did expect that something of those lines would happen. He was huge and powerful and just another pawn in his cousins chess game. The book did not explore Nene as much as I thought that it would so it was difficult to tell exactly how much remorse he felt. The only clue was when he sang "mama I killed a man." It was another example of their being something deeper in his songs.
I believe that the character who played the most significant role was Nazario. I don't think that anything Bodega did could have happened without him. Bodega had a powerful vision, but it was Nazario who was the brains of the entire operation. He was also the face that Bodega did not provide. The twist that Vera was truly in love with Nazario was a twist that was impossible to see coming. Their love affair was the the factor that lead to Bodega's death and Nazario's own arrest.
The character I picked halfway through the novel as my least favorite actually turned out to be the most important character in the book. As I predicted, Nazarios' role in the novel greatly increased in the second half of the novel, and Chino began to have more and more contact with him. At the end of the novel, the reader learns that Bodega's entire dream was just being used by Nazario as a way to get what Nazario wanted. Behind the scenes Nazario manipulated every other character in the book to his own liking.
-Josh F
Halfway through the novel, I thought that Sapo was the most interesting character because of his confidence and like Elyse said, he played the important role of introducing Chino to Bodega. He didn't really seem to have an important role throughout the rest of the novel, although Sapo was somewhat significant because he kept forcing Chino to meet with either Bodega or Nazario.
I think the most significant character in the entire novel would have to be Nazario. Without really knowing until the end, the whole novel revolved around Nazario. Nazario adds a twist to the end of the novel. Bodega wouldn't have really existed without Nazario because it was Nazario that dealt with all of Bodega's hopes and ideas. Without Nazario, there really wouldn't have been a story.
-Alekhya Revur
Sapo was my favorite character half way through the novel. However, I must say I thought his role was going to get interesting. I thought maybe towards the second half of the novel we would finally find out why Sapo wants Chino holding his stuff at his house all the time...or maybe something surprising would happen like a big fight or Sapo officially becoming partners with Bodega. Because the only thing Sapo really does for Bodega is taking Chino to meet with him. Nothing very exciting at all. Julio seemed to build up Sapo so much in the beginning of the novel as he described him beating up that teacher Mr. Bennington and not caring what people thought of him because he only cared about himself. Julio described him a lot and made him seem like a very interesting character and a great "pana" but the only amusing information we read about Sapo in the second half was that he bit Salazar's shoulder...So overall, I was let down by Sapo in the second half
I think without Nazario the novel would not be the same. I'm sure many people said Julio is the center of the novel because he is the narrator and the main character...but I disagree I think Nazario is vitally important to this novel, even more so than Bodega and Julio. The reason is because Nazario takes care of the business and actually is seen throughout the process of rebuilding the neighborhood. He actually confronts people, sets up meetings....was present for the fire that exploded in Julio and Blanca's building etc etc...Bodega is more or less in his own world with Vera and although he wants to better the community he just tells Nazario or Sapo or whoever to do what he says. He does not actually get out there and handle the business. And I understand that he may not want many people to know who he is...he just wants people to have faith in him and be loyal to him even if they don't know who he is, however its Nazario's presence that takes care of rebuilding El Barrio and is in the end a very significant character to the novel.
-Allie
My favorite character, Sapo, really does not continue to be as important as a character as I had hoped. This is disapointing for me, because I really enjoyed his confidence and lack of concern for what most people thought. I would say he is still my favorite character, although I would have liked to have seen more of him. Looking back now, it seems his only major contribution was his act of introducing Chino and Bodega.
Jack Doyle
Willie Bodega is no longer my favorite character because at the end of novel all the reasons that I had initially liked willie for were not true. At first I found Willie to be very smart and ambitious but by the end it is revealed that he had been manipulated by Nazario the whole time. In the end it seems as though Willie has just been played by Nazario for a long time. Not only did Nazario play Willie but Vera also did by faking her love towards him. I do not dislike Willie now but he is no longer my favorite character.
I feel that Nazario drives this novel and without him the novel would not work. The entire novel had been part of Nazario's plan. He wanted Willie to gain power and when the opportunity presented itself he would use chino to get back Vera. Although Nazario is the villian in the end without his presence the novel would not work.
Mike Horgan
Blanca was my favorite at the beginning and maintained that spot until the end. She never loses her religious values and her need to help people. Although she can be harsh on Chino, it is only because of how much she loves him and she will always love him no matter what. She felt betrayed that he lied to her and got involved with the wrong people, so I think she had a right to leave him, at least for a little while. Chino hurt her badly and he knew that when he saw "the angry tears form in Blanca's eyes" (174). She was angry but she won't be angry at him forever. She just wants what is best for him and their future together, which i respect.
The character that played the most significant role in the novel was Vera for she was truely the cause of everything that happened. Without her, Bodega would not have worked hard to become successful in the first place and he would not have dreamed of something more. Not only this, but Nazzario would not have gotten involved with Bodega's affairs or any of this planning, for he was only after Vera as well. Vera, though a very small part in the actual novel, was the most significant character because the entire plot revolved around her. She was even connected to Chino through Blanca and that is why he became involved with Bodega in the first place. She is truely the center and cause of the plot line.
-MEGHAN DOHERTY :)
Tapia wasn't mentioned again, but his influences remain aparent in the latter half of the novel. It seems that Tapia was one of the reasons that Chino pursued his education. Chino may have taken Tapia's lessons to heart, and decided to make a career for himself.
The most significant character in the entire novel is Nazario. Without his lawyer, Bodega would be either in jail or broke. It was through Nazario that Bodega was able to accumulate his wealth. Although it may be Bodega at the front of all of his dealings, Nazario is write behind him, telling him which lines to sign and which to initial. Through Nazario, Bodega founded real estate businesses which he used to purchase buildings, and Nazario even brought Vera to New York using a donation of money made in her name. Using his legal knowledge and his support for the area, Nazario is the most significant character in the novel.
-Tom Barnes
Halfway through the novel I chose Mr. Edwin Nazario as my favorite character and through my little speech, one might have been able to figure out that I didn't really like Bodega. Well now I think Nazario is a friggen idiot and I wish I could just shoot him. After reading the last paragraph on page 200, when Blanca tells Julio that Vera is a slut, whore, puta, latino trash, and that she was in love with Nazario...that is when my opinion changed. I made a very good prediction when I thought Nazario was going to come out on top and destroy Bodega, but now in the way that I thought he would come out on top. Though Nazario worked with Bodega in their mischevious acts, I thought he was a good man and would get was he received for being Bodega's b***h..but HECK NAH! That son of a female dog, ended up with what he wanted. I hate u edwin nazario..gosh u make me mad. I am so unattracted to him now. I began to not like him back when Nazario walked onto the stage in the auditorium & now, his slyness is just so repulsive.
I think Bodega plays the most significant role in the entire novel because he shows the extent to which a human being can go for trying to achieve his dreams. He's like Jesus. Without Jesus, we would not be able to survive because we all sin. This is like Bodega; without him, half of those people wouldn't be able to be live in the novel because they relied on the man. Also without Bodega, there would be no story...so the man is quite important.
yelaD R ynaffiT-
Halfway through this novel, I discussed how Sapo was my least favorite character in the book. And after reading the whole thing, I still hate him. He continued to use Julio as a cover for his drug business and didn't treat him as a friend. Julio tells him, "I'm happy to see you, bro," and Sapo responds with "Yeah, yeah, you just better have my shit" (154). Clearly Sapo does not value Julio as an actual friend, simply an ally in Bodega's overall plan. Sapo's entire existence in the second half of the book is minimal, considering that we only see him a few times throughout the rest of the book. Sapo tells Julio that Bodega's "empire is up for the taking," suggesting that even after the death of one of his closests 'bros' he is considering taking over the system that Bodega put his entire life effort into. Throughout this whole book I see Sapo as an insignificant liar and cheater and another character should have realized his faults.
Without the character of Vera, this whole novel would not have connected. Bodega and Vera's realtionship caused the death of Vera's husband, John, which caused the death of Bodega himself, and led to the arrest of Nazario, Nene, and Vera. If Vera hadn't existed, Bodega never would have contacted Julio because he only wanted Julio to get to Blanca, who could contact her aunt and tell her to come visit. Without Vera, Bodega would not have built up his so-called empire, because he built all of his tenements in order to impress her. Without Vera, the novel would have had no plot and could not be related to the Great Gatsby in any way.
--Allie Nix
I chose Sapo originally and although my predictions about him were wrong, he is still my favorite. He persisted in surviving through the downfall of Bodaga and he even plans to take over Bodega's empire. He is smart and determined. Sapo is independent and strong yet maintains loving connections with Chino, his best friend whom he grew up with.
I think that the character the novel couldn’t function without is Vera. Vera is the motivation of every major action done in the novel. The novel is based around love for Vera. The whole novel is an attempt for Both Bodega and Nazario retrieve her. Up until the end where Nazario kills Bodega, it is love for Vera that drives the novel.
James Ackley
Halfway through the novel, I chose Willie Bodega as my favorite character. Now having read the whole novel I still agree that he is a very mysterious and intriguing character. My opinion of him stays the same because during the second half of the novel we see a sensitive side to him as he shows his love for Vera. I think this adds to his softer side that he has already represented with the way he gives to the community. I also think that he was very interesting seeing how he always wanted Chino around and acted as if he always wanted something more from him after already receiving what he wanted. This further enhances the mysterious effect which adds to the story. He seemed like the kind of person who would do anything for the ones he loved thus including his community and Vera herself. I think he is a very noble strong character that had a very unfortunate death.
-Megan C
Also i believe that without Bodega, this story would not have gone far because almost every time Chino was called up by Sapo,it was on Bodega's behalf. Bodega depended on those who helped him and he returned the favor. He contributed a lot to this novel and the way he provided for his community and his friends proved that.
-Megan C
I thought Sapo was the man in the first half of this novel. I still find his character to be extremely entertaining and a joy to be around. But as the plot unfolds i despise him and look down on him a little as it really was him who brought Chino into this whole mess. As his "pana" or best friend who would always protect Chino is his best interest, Sapo should have none better thant to get Chino involved into a mess with the druglord Bodega. I still respect him as a character and he did redeem himself at Bodega's service at the end when there was the mushy mushy emotional part. "I just wannted to know if you remebah, cuz you my only friend"(205). It's sad in a way but Sapo was one hell of a character who I enjoyed and will miss.
I believe Chino is the main drive behind the novel. One could argue that Bodega's antics and wants were the reason everything happened or that Sapo's intrigue and connections tied everything together. But the fact is that Chinos is one of a kind character who was the perfect fit for the role he played. Also as narrator, he was irreplaceable and without his voice and outlook the novel would not work. He brings that sharp, opinionated view from someone who is not in the whole mess, but is involved. And that was exactly what this novel needed.
-$Brendan$
Halfway through the novel I said my least favorite character was Chino. He still maintains that standing to me. Once Chino sees that Bodega was the one who told Sapo to kill the reporter, he could have easily walked away in the name of his family. It still frusturates me, because he skips class to spend time with Bodega and Vera. Its those choices that the reader knows that are in Chino's control. These decisions occur throughout the novel.
-heather carr
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