Homosocial Bonding In The Infinite Tides

These two characters showed significant psychological work in hopes of changing their “problematic” social identity. Both of these characters were conscious of the stigmas that surrounded their identities, each, however, had distinct ways in which they dealt with those stigmas and changing their meanings as they grew older. Many would say that the way in which they were able to transform their identities meant either embracing it or denying one’s own identity fully as the film progressed and new societal pressures arose.

Kat, the leader of the pack is also a father figure to Paul. One night Paul says to Kat, "We don't talk much, but I believe we have a more complete communion with one another than even lovers have."

They then get on the discussion of mental illness and they talk about Kevin’s ex who cuts herself, and Olive’s son, who is depressed. They then get out of the car to help Patty Howe who jumped in the water over not being able to have a child, Olive and Kevin prevent her from drowning and get her the help she needs. The third story, “The Piano Player”, is about Angela O’Meara, a piano player in their small town for over twenty years. Angela had a lot of stage fright, so she came into work a little drunk every time. She was having an affair with a man named Malcolm Moody but breaks it off and starts seeing an old lover named Simon who told her despicable things about what her mother tried to do to him in previous years. Then at the end of the night, Malcolm goes to her and calls her a “nut” and “ a

Paul begins to make frequent visits to the university library in an attempt to discover more about Keller's past. Incidentally, he discovers a couple having sex on the floor and decides to watch on. In his mind, this makes Paul thing about having sex himself. And in turn having sex with his first crush at his new school Megan Murray whom he admits to the sexual dreams he has had about her and despite her appreciation, she rejects him. After returning back to school Paul meets new student Rosie Zollo, who falls for Paul however he initially finds her annoying. After the advent of Pauls newfound sexual maturity, Paul will fall for Rosie. "Each day my eyes seemed to be opened just a little wider, and more of that sun-drenched town of lush garden, scents, and sexuality seemed to cram itself in. Nothing I heard in that dark, humid room in the Swam had much place in my new world.." later on the couple share their first sexual experiences with each other. Megan, who Paul later has sex with, regrets it and realizes his love for Rosie. This shows Megan who is a symbol of Pauls sexual adolescence and was really only a depiction of physical attraction. Pauls maturity then blossoms when being around Rosie who he learns to love and care for her in a way that he had never cared about Megan. His love for Rosie grows so deep he then begins to sadly ignore keller and begins to miss lessons to be with

The first group, Paul experiences a growing understanding of his friends. Paul’s friend Gino doesn’t value Paul because he gives him a rude nickname due to his glasses. He says, “ “Then Gino came running and yelled, ‘Hey Mars! Is your name

In these two stories I read the main characters really do not like the other people they are in an encounter with or atleast at one point in

Joey, Paul’s best friend, thinks more positively about Paul and thinks that he is normal and can be a hero instead of a freak like most other people see Paul as. “Joey said, ‘Fisher,

shaped these characters’ outcomes. So how did the paths of these two characters diverge? These two characters had very different crowds of

These are just some examples of how the characters change throughout the movie, however there are specific scenes where this takes place quite obviously.

The screwball comedic element of this introduction to Peter is that when he is quitting his job over the phone he is drunk with a group of friends around him. When he is talking to his boss he is acting like he is “the boss” and controls the conversation to make himself look good. Through the other side of the phone his boss has already fired him and hung up but to avoid embarrassment, Peter acts like he is still on the phone with his boss and “quits”. This classic screwball scene is entertaining to the viewers as the audience knows what is going on but his friends do not which makes it an odd and humorous situation. These characters come from opposite social and economic classes which makes it seem as though they would never cross paths or get along. There affection for one another is formed through the journey these two strangers share with one another and this develops their relationship and attitudes towards each other over time. Through the course of the film, these characters show a sense of disheartenment and lack of caring towards one another but their opposites are brought together and their views are changed through screwball comedic elements.

Paul is seen as being relaxed, insecure, and private about his feelings. Bona initiates the start of their relationship while in the gymnasium at their school. For the class, there is a basketball game and she wants to be put in despite her lack of athletic abilities. She gets physical when she is blocking him. This instance of flirting shows that Bona is interested in pursuing a relationship with Paul, despite his race. She sees his skin color as something exotic. Paul represents something different, most likely because he can pass for a white person. He and Bona go on a double date with Arthur and Helen, his friends from school. Throughout the date, Paul feels out of place because he “knew that people saw, not attractiveness in his dark skin, but difference” (75). Paul senses that everyone in the restaurant is staring at him because he is black. Throughout the night, Paul had been overthinking everything. At the very end of this chapter, Paul confides in a black doorman at the Crimson Gardens, the restaurant the date is taking place. Paul tells him that “[he is] going out and know [Bona] whom [he] brought here with [him] to these Gardens which are purple like a bed of roses at

Peter stops criticizing women but, but he never stops being an idiot. Peter also represents wholeness. Wholeness means a system functions as a unit. Without one part the whole system is useless. That is how Peter is. Without Peter, there is no Family Guy. Peter's antics and slanderous comments are what keep the television show afloat. Mark Lilly states," the homophobic critic will resort to raw abuse, with a vehemence that is normally uncharacteristic of the writers I will cite" (Lilly,7).Peter can also be offensive gay, lesbian, and transgender people. He is impulsive, and he does not think his thoughts all the way through. In episodes like "You May Now Kiss the... Uh... Guy Who Receives" and " Quagmire's Dad" Peter criticizes Jasper for trying to marry the same sex, and criticizes Quagmire's Dad for getting a sex change. He constantly harasses them, and causes them pain and hurt.

audience) that he will wait in a café until he finds her. The café he

This scene is significant to illustrate how both characters are formed by their social constructs while wanting different intentions.

To begin with, Erik makes the choice to begin calling Paul eclipse boy and spreads a rumor about how