Philip Kozlowski 10/10/13 English B1

Characters, as any other part of literature, are important to an effective narrative. The main character called the protagonist is the most necessary because he or she drives the action. Erik and Mr. Fisher are characters in the novel, Tangerine, that work against the protagonist, Paul, and create conflict, they are the antagonists. Without conflict, the narrative would not be

effective. The narratives key elements are conjoined by the characters and their conflicts, without them the story, plot, and setting would not and could not make sense in any book including Tangerine. The characters that work against Paul in Tangerine are necessary to drive the story through and/or create rising action, the climax, falling action, and the resolution. In Tangerine Paul is the protagonist, and is represented by many colors, shapes, and sizes. Paul is a shade of yellow, orange, and red because he changes his feelings toward kids at Tangerine Middle by first watching, the guys karate kicking each other, and the menacinglooking gangs (97). After he had been in Tangerine for a while he began to make friends and remembered good times by saying, [he] would never forget that bus ride home (199) and Paul joined the War Eagles in chanting, War! War! War!(118). Paul and Mr. Fishers connection is represented by a torn rope. The reader knows when Paul and Mr. Fishers connection is lost, when Paul asked, How many games did I play in, Dad?, and What position did I play? he then asked, How many field goals did Erik kick?(233) Mr. Fisher did not know the answer to Pauls first two questions, he only knew about Eriks games. Paul is an outcast like a random freeform shape when others make fun of him, people said Hey eclipse boy (34) or they called

him fisher man. (124). Erik is always jabbing at Pauls side during the story and in flashbacks recalled by Paul, [He] remembered Erik prying open [his] eyelids open while Vincent Castor sprayed paint into them.(263-264) Paul was also confronted by Erik in the present too, Erik stared at [him] with growing fury, with growing hatred, moving the bat in a tight circle. (262) Paul, the coke bottle glasses wearer, is an outcast amongst his friends and family. Erik is the main force that opposes Paul; he can be described as a person of anger and hatred. Erik is a dark deep red because he is constantly angry and annoyed of his younger brother. Erik is supported by his dad when, [he] lashed out, smashing the back of his hand across Tinos face (205) [Paul] saw a white shirt move Could [Mr. Fisher] have seen what Erik had done. (206) Pauls dad did not show that he was worried about what Erik had done. Erik and his dad share the Erik Fisher Football Dream together and are constantly talking about it, [Paul] thought to [himself], OK, here we are. How long did it take Dad to get to his favorite topic, the Erik Fisher Football Dream? (11). Erik is a triangle, which only has three sides, Football, looking innocent, and hating Paul. Erik steals the Lake Windsor peoples valuables, but his dad tries to defend him and make people give him a pardon, [We] wish to make a full restitution to all of [the Lake Windsor Downs people] (280). Eriks career in football is the only thing that he has going for him, What if Erik has no future in football? then in the text Paul thought, Did [Pauls mom] know Erik had no good character, or did she still blindly believe in the Dream?(234) Erik, the aggressive, red pointy triangle, isnt the only force that opposes Paul. Mr. Fisher is another antagonist who helps Erik and supports him. Erik is supported by his dad all the time, [he] was pretty hyper, like this was the most important day of his life (126) Then black clouds started rolling in Come on, you two mom yelled No you go

ahead said Dad.(129). Mr. Fisher is green because he is always happy about the Dream and continuously gives the green light to Erik. Mr. Fisher does not say no to Erik and tries to make Erik the center of attention. Mr. Fisher chose to let Paul hate himself instead of letting Erik be continually hated by Paul, We wanted to keep you from always hating your brother So [Pauls parents] figured it would be better if [Paul] just hated [himself]? (265). Mr. Fisher is a support beam in Eriks life, If we can get all of you to sign this restitution plan then the Sheriffs department will not pursue further charges against Erik. (280). Mr. Fisher wants the Football dream to still occur, and so he doesnt want Erik to go to jail, ending the dream. Mr. Fisher is a man of football and Erik, not Paul. Characters in Tangerine are connected in positive and negative ways. Paul and Erik have a hate-hate relationship as shown by the red triangle jabbing into the yellow, red, and orange freeform shape, Erik waved casually at Mom. He ignored me. (10) Erik and Mr. Fishers relationship is shared through the dream, This house was built on the Erik Fisher Football Dream. (132). But, Paul and his fathers relationship is not so great and Paul knows it, Football season and soccer season happen at the same time, Dad. Its OK if you cant pay attention to both. (94). In this text it shows that Paul knows that his dad doesnt pay attention to him. Therefore in the geometric design, Pauls rope that is attached to his dad is no longer attached, but broken. Paul has also drifted away from his father in the design. In order to understand a character; readers have to think of their actions, relationships and conflicts with and against each other. By knowing there traits and personalities, the reader can better understand why they did what they did in the story. Comparing actions and feelings of characters to shapes sizes and colors is a symbolic way for the reader to show what they interpreted about that character. The interlinking reasons in their conflict can also be shown by

using symbols. Knowing and understanding the character is essential to know if the narrative was any good. The reader know if the book is a worthy narrative, if the book demonstrates the conflict and relations between characters.