5. It could be argued that Tub, on the surface, is a stock character: a cartoon-like obese man who is the butt of other people's jokes. What characterizing details help to make Tub into a fully realized individual?
"Nobody knows. That's the worst of it, Frank. Not the being fat, I never got any kick out of being thin, but the lying. Having to lead a double life like a spy or hit man."
When the story began, Tub (what an unfortunate name even if it is indicative of his physical characteristics) was just the man who stood on the side of the road and was picked up by his rowdy friends. Then he was the one that had to walk by himself along the river and was too distracted by his exhaustion to notice the deer tracks he walked right past. All this time, his weight defined him. He was just the fat man in the story, and Kenny was the fun, outgoing character who tormented him. However, when Tub fought back against Kenny and shot him before Kenny could aim his gun in Tub's direction, the reader gets an idea of who Tub actually is. He's incredibly sensitive and he has a real problem - and it has nothing to do with his glands. He has low self-esteem and an eating disorder. When Tub tells Frank about his shortcomings when it comes to self-restraint, he demonstrates his vulnerability along with his ability to trust. Tub is an unfortunate little man who has a loyal friend that is just as flawed as he is.
No comments:
Post a Comment