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Hunters In The Snow Character Analysis

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The Struggle for Power in “Hunters in the Snow” In Tobias Wolff’s “Hunters in the Snow”, the plot illustrates a struggle for power between the three main characters. Throughout the story, the balance of power shifts between characters from Kenny leading to Tub and Frank sharing power over Kenny. The narrator conveys this struggle for power in the use of conflict, motivation, and suspense. The narrator describes conflicts between the characters that show how the characters are fighting for power. One of the conflicts is when Kenny picks on Tub over his weight. They stop to eat and Kenny notices Tub eating one hard-boiled egg asks him about his diet and then says “All I can say is, it’s the first diet I ever heard of where you gained …show more content…

Frank tells Tub that “This so-called fifteen-year-old has more in her little finger than most of us have in our entire bodies” when talking about his babysitter (89). Frank’s affair consumes his thinking and makes him follow whoever has the power in hopes that they will justify his actions. Another example of a character’s motivations that show the struggle for power are Kenny’s motivations. Kenny is satirical and uncompassionate towards his friends because he believes it is the only way for him to be in control. Kenny constantly makes fun of Tub and Frank for their sensitivities and plays them against one another. Kenny is power-hungry and will fight to stay on top. The narrator uses suspense to show the shifting power struggle between the characters. One example is the scene where Kenny shoots the dog. Kenny starts shooting random things and saying that he hates them including a dog then he “turned to Tub” and said “I hate you” (84). The suspense highlights how this scene is a turning point in the struggle for power in which Kenny becomes the lowest member. Another example of suspense showing the power struggle is when Tub tried to catch up to Kenny and Frank. Tub is left behind and starts to panic building suspense. This scene highlights the power struggle by showing Tub trying to catch up to the two people on top of the power struggle. Another example of suspense in the story is the beginning scene when Tub is almost run

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