Choices of Tangerine
Have you ever met a monster disguised as a super star? In the novel “Tangerine” by Edward Bloor, Erik is a senior at Lake Windsor High School. Erik cares very much about the Erik Fisher Football Dream or the E.F.F.D. He is a star to his family, but a monster to his little brother, Paul Fisher, whom he treats like trash. Erik also chooses to slap Tino, force Arthur to hit Luis, and force Castor to spray paint in Paul’s eyes, which affects Paul in a dreadful way.
The choice made by Erik that affects Paul, was the choice for Erik to force Arthur to hit Luis on his head with blackjack, killing him. This made Paul angry and breathless. According to the text, “I looked at the blond deputy. The weapon that he [Arthur], used
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This made Paul feel embarrassed, because Tino hadn’t done anything to deserve being hit and Paul was ashamed of his brother for hurting his friend. According to the text, “Immediately, faster than I thought he could, faster than Tino thought he could, Erik lashed out, smashing him so hard that Tino spun halfway around in the air and landed on the grass…. I tried to get Tino to come inside, but he wouldn’t. He wouldn’t talk to me, or even look at me…. What could I have done? What should I have done.” [Page 205-207]. This passage explains that this choice Erik made. Tino embarrassed Erik, teasing him about him falling on this butt in the mud at a football, so Erik, punched Tino in his ear, making it bleed. This affected Paul because the interaction made his friendship with Tino awkward. Tino thinks that Paul is like his brother even though he isn't. Also Paul feels embarrassed because he didn’t back up Tino and because he didn’t warn him of what could happen at his …show more content…
Erik’s choices have taught me and others that Erik doesn’t think about the choices he makes and how they affect people. He only cares about himself and his dreams. If Erik doesn’t have his way he forces his way. This is a good thing to remember because you may have a friend or a person you know like this. Instead of running away from them if your scared, you could teach that person the effects of your choices about yourself or somebody else. This is important because this happens in everyday life and you need to not just focus on yourself, but on others and to watch what your choices can do in the
As a result of this Paul feels secondary to Eric because Eric gets more attention from Mom and Dad. In page 289 it said,”When we moved to Houston, when Erik was eleven, he realized football was the star attraction.” From this evidence, we see that Paul feels less important to his family. Additionally, we can see that Paul is being ignored, almost to the point where he is abandoned. This helps Paul build his character because he tumbles down, losing more than his
One way Luis affected Paul was by teaching Paul to defend himself. All throughout Paul’s life, Paul was bullied by his older brother Erik. Erik had done many hurtful actions to Paul, like spraying paint in his eyes, making
And though Paul is surrounded with Erik’s trouble and evil, Paul received strength through it as well.
First, a choice made by Paul is when he gave his statement to the police about what he witnessed. He stated, “I saw him do it. I saw Arthur Bauer sneak up on Luiz Cruz like a coward and hit him on the side of the head. Luiz didn’t even see it coming.” This choice helped him develop because he felt as though ever since he met Luiz that he was special and meant something to him, so he needed to tell what actually happened at the high school. The decision was made because Paul belatedly found his voice and was going to speak up for once. The choice plays a major role in the Fisher family considering what will most likely
and Mrs. Fisher. Case in point, Paul finds his voice and stands-up to his brother, Erik, and Erik’s friend, Arthur. “ I stepped forward…. Erik. Come on”(261). Furthermore, a second altercation happens when Paul confronts his parents about his eyesight. “I exploded… Am I that idiot”(264). This evidence reveals the beginning of the resolution because throughout the whole novel, the main character, Paul Fisher, has been quiet and shy about his internal ideas, or thoughts. Paul finally gets enough courage to stand- up to his brother and
One decision that caused Paul to be less afraid of Erik is on pages 262-263. On these pages the author says, “He turned and threw the bat into the Land Cruiser. He got in, and Arthur got in, and they drove quickly away.” (Pg 262-263) This makes Paul less afraid of him because he was able to stand up to Erik and Arthur alone without getting hurt by either one of them. This also caused Paul not to be afraid of Erik because it proved to Paul that Erik wasn't so perfect and put together as he thought. Another reason why Paul is not afraid of Erik at the end of the book is on page 284. On page 284 the author states that, “I stood up straight and faced them all, like I had seen Luis do. “I saw- I heard Erik Fisher tell him to do it.”” (Pg. 284) This shows that Paul is less afraid of Erik because he was willing to expose Erik in front of everyone, and tell the complete truth without being afraid that Erik would hurt him in anyway. Erik Fisher causes Paul Fisher to be less afraid of him by losing control and not denying the truth about the bad things he had
When one hears the name Erik Fisher, selfishness is the first word that pops up in the head. Erik Fisher is selfish because of the sick attitude he gives people. In Tangerine, all Erik cares about is himself and his football dream. In the story, Paul says about Mike Costello, “He’s bound to change, in one way or another, once he gets caught up inside the Erik Fisher Football Dream.” On the other hand, Paul Fisher is the total opposite of him. Throughout the story, Paul tries his best to make friends. He gets good grades and is good at soccer, but he never cares about just himself. Unlike Erik, he thinks he is on a very good sports team with amazing
People who enjoy realistic-fiction novels that include sibling rivalry, sports, making life changes, and the tension of a dysfunctional family environment will be interested in reading this journal writing from the first person perspective of Paul Fisher. This novel includes characteristics of middle school encounters ; therefor, ages 10 and up will appreciate this
Paul’s parents and Erik create many problems for Paul, and it makes it difficult for him to uncover his true self. Paul’s parents don’t pay attention to what Erik truly is, but are also absorbed in his high school football career. Dad said,” You’re saying that I know everything about Erik’s season and nothing about yours. Your right, and I’m sorry.” (Bloor pg.234) But Erik also creates problems
Erik told Arthur to do something with Luis so he snuck up on Luis and batted him on the side of the head with a blackjack.The imagery I see is Arthur getting things out of his bag and sneaking up on Luis to hurt him.A couple days later, Luis died. Everyone thought a tree branch hit him, but they don't know the truth. Paul wanted to tell the truth, but he was
Afterward, Paul reveals to the police that Erik and Arthur were involved in the death of Luis Cruz. On page 211 of Tangerine it states, “Arthur reached Luis, turned, and whipped the blackjack around with a loud whack against the side of Luis’s head.” Paul’s close friend Luis was smacked across the head with a blackjack by Erik and this caused Luis to have an aneurysm. Luis was smacked on the head because Erik had hit Tino, Luis’ brother in the face with a blackjack, so Luis got involved, and confronted Erik and Arthur. Paul is devastated because the aneurysm sadly caused Luis’ death. Luis was very helpful to Paul and seeing him dead made Paul despondent. Also pages 244-245 states, “Luis Cruz is dead...I raised my hand and got Ms. Polland’s attention. I said, “I gotta go. I’m sick again.” Luis’ death made Paul sick to his stomach because first, they were close friends because he was kind of like an older brother to Paul. Also, Paul knows that Arthur and Erik are involved in the
Because of Eric’s decisions Paul is now not afraid to speak up. And he will now know to speak up when there is a problem. In the book Tangerine, Eric’s choices and the consequences of his choices affected the development of Paul in two ways. When Eric hit Tino and when Paul figured out that Eric was the reason he was
Paul refuses to accept his older brothers aid and moreover refuses to even listen to what his brother has to say. In order to make his brother listen Norman will be forced to confront his brother, something that he is not willing to do. Norman and Paul have never fought physically. They are equally good at street fighting and do not want to have to figure out who would win as this would cause their relationship to be destroyed. Norman ultimately allows and
Consequently, In The Novel Tangerine “Arthur reached Luis, turned, and whipped the blackjack around with a loud whack against the side of Luis’s head .”(Bloor 211) . Paul decides to stay under the bleachers he rather not interfere because if he tells his parents they might not believe him. Paul is affected because he does not know to tell on Erik and Arthur he is causes problems for himself
We can hardly control ourselves when our glance lights on the form of some other man. We are insensible, dead men, who through some trick, some dreadful magic, are still able to run and to kill” (Remarque 116). Paul’s description of himself and his comrades does not sound human; rather, it sounds as if he were describing a pack of wolves. Furthermore, when Paul becomes trapped in the middle ground during a skirmish, he realizes he must defend himself. A French soldier jumps into his hole, forcing Paul to kill him. Paul “strike[s] madly at home and feel[s] only how the body suddenly convulses” without any thought (Remarque 216). The language employed by Remarque suggests Paul’s behavior is animalistic and brutal. His mad stabs into the body of the Frenchman imply the violent and impersonal nature of man that coincides with war.