Character Analysis: Tangerine

Tangerine

How would it feel to live with somebody who caused so much damage to people’s lives, but always got away with it? In Tangerine, Erik Fisher made harmful and uncivil choices that affected many people’s lives. Erik’s choices impact Paul Fisher by making Paul feel less of himself, getting teased and bullied, and Paul’s friends being afraid to come over and hang out with him.
Nobody should make anyone feel below standard, but that is exactly what Erik makes Paul feel. For no good reason, Erik constantly teases Paul about his poor eyesight, and made others around them bully Paul too. “You blind little geek! You can’t see 10 feet in front of you.” (Bloor 265). This is one of the few things Erik calls Paul, Erik uses Paul’s weaknesses against him, and makes Paul feel bad. “ So you figured it would be better if I just hated myself?”
(Bloor 265). This is what Paul stated, admitting how he felt.

Know the whole story before blaming.

Erik and his friend Castor were doing graffiti in the neighborhood, which Paul was aware of, but Paul did not tell anybody. Word got out that it was Erik and Castor spray painting the walls, and Castor got in trouble. “You're going to pay for telling on Castor. You told who sprayed paint on the wall, and Castor got in trouble. Castor doesn’t like getting in trouble” (Bloor 263). This explains how Erik when he thought Paul was a snitch and told. In return, as Paul’s punishment for something he did not do, Erik sprayed white paint into Paul's eyes, which damaged Paul’s vision, and caused him to get teased, where glasses, and not have as many opportunities as a normal

boy.
It was hard for Paul to make friends do to his appearance, but when Paul did make a friend at Tangerine Middle School, Erik got in the way of it. Tino, Paul’s new friend, was making fun of Erik for missing a football when he tried to kick, Erik had enough and slapped Tino. “Erik lashed out, smacking the back of his hand across Tino’s face, smashing him so hard that Tino spun halfway around in the air, and landed on the grass.” (Bloor 205). This supports the statement that Erik is rough and handles things physically, and it just so happens he handled things with Tino that way, which made Tino not want to be around Paul as much, and not come over. “He stared at me, unmoving, until I dared to return his gaze.” (Bloor 205). This was Paul's reaction to Erik slapping Tino, Paul just stood there shocked and nervous.
In conclusion, Eriks actions on Paul, direct or not, affect him in many ways, such as, making his friends fear Paul’s home, making Paul feel bad about who he is, and Paul being teased by peers because of something Erik started.