Character Analysis Of President Cleveland, Where Are You? By Robert Cormier

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In this story “President Cleveland, Where Are You?” by Robert Cormier, Jerry is the protagonist, and he is an avid card collector. Jerry is a sympathetic character to readers because his shortcomings, as well as his strengths, are ones with which many readers can identify. Even adult readers can identify from their own experiences with Jerry's youthful passion for collecting cards.” The cards were available in those five-cent packages of gum: pink sticks, three together, covered with a sweet white powder.” (page 264). Most readers like Jerry and want to see him gain maturity and correct his mistakes just as they would want a friend to do. During this part of the story he must choose between giving more for his fathers gift or buying more cards. He chooses the cards this shows us his inner feelings at the time.Soon he finds the cowboy cards are gone and he had shorted his fathers gft fund. Jerry's shame at his own selfishness leads him to act selflessly in the second part of the story. When Armand needs money to take his girlfriend to the prom, Jerry, knowing that their father has no extra money to give Armand, sells the one trading card he possesses that everyone wants. After selling the card to Rollie Tremaine, Jerry gives the money to Armand. This act shows that …show more content…

When Jerry first tells Roger how Rollie acquired the the card, Roger is upset and confused. But after a few moments, Jerry tells him that it was a genuine emergency, and Roger understands. Roger knows that Jerry would not have sold the Grover Cleveland card to Rollie Tremaine unless it were really important. The exact details are not necessary because Roger accepts Jerry's explanation. As the story ends, Jerry is not particularly happy about what he had to do. He is still "waiting for the good feeling to come." However, he knows that he had no other choice, and he does not regret giving up the Grover Cleveland

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