Character Analysis Of Doug Swieteck's Okay For Now

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Doug Swieteck is the main character, main protagonist, and narrator of the novel Okay For Now. Doug has long hair that is long enough to be mistaken as girl’s hair. Doug is called a “skinny thug” and “skinny delivery boy” by Lil and Mrs. Windermere multiple times throughout the book because of his slender frame and tough looks. He is always trying to act cool, such as leaning back against the library stairs while talking to Lil so he can appear calm and casual. “What would Joe Pepitone do?” is a question Doug asks himself regularly; he does this because Joe Pepitone is his mentor and he aspires to be like him. Doug can also come off as very rude because he can get irritated easily. Doug’s love of baseball shows while he takes stats of everything. …show more content…

He visits owners of the paintings from all across Marysville and makes deals with them to get to the paintings back. Doug wants to complete the volume because there are only a couple completed ones in the world. He also does it because he has an affinity to the paintings of the birds. Conflict 2 The main conflict of the story was Doug versus his father. This conflict is a man versus man conflict. Doug has to be strong enough to stand up to his father and to fight for his rights. Doug’s father beats him and their family. Doug’s family gets closer and his father stops seeing them. Doug’s father feels bad and gets Doug’s Joe Pepitone jacket from Ernie Eco and gives it to Doug. Doug’s father eventually starts accompanying the family again and even starts to be happy. This conflict is partially resolved because Doug’s father has gotten nicer, but he could still revert to his awful ways. …show more content…

Marysville is a very small town with very few stores or things to do. His house which he calls “The Dump” is a tiny beat-up house on a block of other similar houses. Doug lives here during the year 1968 while the Vietnam War and Apollo Launch Missions were occurring. When Doug’s family first moves to Marysville in the summertime, but the story continues on throughout the year until the next summer. Importance of Setting Marysville is such a small town that everyone knows everyone and gossip travels quickly, this affects whole Doug’s family. Doug goes to his new school and everyone has known each other for years and he is the only new student. Doug would likely not have met Lil if the town was bigger, he would also have not gone to the library if there were more things to do. If Doug had not gone to the library he would not uncover his love of art. Christopher would not have been accused of stealing if the town was bigger. He might not have hung out with the pack of criminals either. Lucas wouldn’t be in the military and wouldn’t have gotten injured and be in a

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