Gretchen Lutterman Character Analysis

606 Words2 Pages

Cal is a character who has to deal with other peoples' problems while having to deal with his own problems. Cal has to deal with his father losing his job and his father doesn't support Cal when it comes to sports. Wanting his dad to go to some of his games, Cal discusses with his mom about his dad coming to the games. "Do you think you and Dad might come?" "No... not tonight, you know your is going through a lot right now." I zipped my gym bag shut. "Yeah, I know, but I wish he'd see me play sometime" (West 16). Helping out Cal, Peggy brings up Cal's last football game at the dinner table, trying to gain her fathers' attention on the subject. "I didn't say anything about the game at dinner that night! like I'd be begging my dad to come, I mean a lot of kids …show more content…

Beatings, teasing, and insanity are a few examples of what Gretchen is going through as well as what is holding Gretchen back from having a happy life. All of the examples come as a result from her father. Gretchen's father has a sheer way of having Gretchen act and live. Gretchen's sister, Helga, went insane as a result of her father which makes Gretchen fear for her life as she cannot reach out for help because is she does, then she says, multiple times throughout the book, that her father will severely hurt or possibly kill her. "She pulled her dress slightly above her knee and showed me an ugly looking bruise. 'He wouldn't let me out because the marks would show'" (West 92). Finally, Gretchen's mom is scared of Gretchen's father as well. She doesn't try to help any of her children, she lies about what her husband does to their children. Gretchen explained this to Cal, "Helga tried to tell on him. It was her word against his. My mother lied and told them Helga just made up the story. I wish my mother had told the truth, but she's too scared. If she was stronger, she could stop him, tell on him" (West

Show More
Related

  • Character Analysis: The Liles Of The Field

    256 Words  | 1 Pages

    In the Lilies of the Field by William E. Barrett, Homer and Mother Maria both display straightforward, hardworking, and stubborn character traits. Firstly, Homer and Mother Maria both display a straightforward personality by being brutally honest about their opinions. For example, when Mother Maria asks Homer to build a chapel, Homer speaks his mind by telling her he does not want to build it. Mother Maria shows her straightforward behavior during Homer’s stay at the convent. One morning, when Homer sleeps in late, Mother to becomes extremely upset and is not afraid to show how she feels about him. Secondly, both Homer and Mother Maria display a hardworking spirit. Homer is a hardworking man because after finally agreeing to build the chapel,

    Read More

  • Until They Bring The Streetcars Back, Cal Gant

    611 Words  | 2 Pages

    Much of the book has one startling development after another to the shock of the characters. One of the problems Cal was facing is that he doesn't have the power to help someone that's going through something. And Cal gets angry because "Going through high school, there was always a surprise about someone or something unexpected floating around in the social circles. I believe this is relatable to the average reader in that they no doubt have heard horrible rumors about their classmates and wondered who to talk to or how to solve the problem.

    Read More

  • Isolation Form Love In The Film "east Of Eden"

    640 Words  | 2 Pages

    Steinbeck shows Cals isolation from love and its aggressive results when Cal angrily throws stones at his mothers house. When Cal first learns of his supposedly dead mothers existence he is outraged and goes to seek her. When he is not allowed to see her he violently throws stones and yells "Why can’t a kid see his own mother?" and "Why cant I see my mother". This is the first of several violent actions taken by Cal in an effort to be redeemed by his parents affections. His actions, although violent, are a symbol of his not being loved and the isolation he feels towards his family. In the scene where Cal tries to confer with his mother it is also learned that his mother does not want to have any contact with her children.

    Read More

  • Friday Night Lights Rhetorical Analysis

    915 Words  | 2 Pages

    “His mother, Dale, felt the same way, for football had become as important to her as it had to her son. She went to every practice, and on Thursday nights she always invited a bunch of the players over for lasagna. She had sobbed after the loss to Lee just as hard as Jerrod had, for she feared the season’s ending every bit as much as he did” (Bissinger 249). Bissinger is astounded by the need for the parents to push their children into sports. Bissinger also analyzes the theme of downfall through several characters.

    Read More

  • East of Eden - Self Knowledge

    846 Words  | 2 Pages

    The disparity that develops between Cal's actions and his essence as a person is very much a struggle between wanting to do good and the temptations of evil. From early on in Cal's life he is characterized as a manipulative and almost evil person, always jealous of his b...

    Read More

  • Morgan Geyser And Anissa Weier Character Analysis

    716 Words  | 2 Pages

    Morgan Geyser and Anissa Weier two twelve year old girls were held in court for stabbing another twelve year old girl 19 times. What could have been the motive to stab a twelve year old friend who was so innocent? The supposed motive behind the stabbing was a character called ‘Slenderman’. The two were supposedly influenced by this character and wanted to “please” the character. Morgan and Anissa apparently had this planned since February.In court, Morgan and Anissa were tried as adults instead of juveniles despite them being only twelve. Many people believe Morgan and Anissa should have been tried as juveniles because of their lack of knowledge on what is right or wrong and because of their age. Morgan and Anissa should be tried as adults in court for stabbing a twelve year

    Read More

  • Child Abuse In The Movie

    957 Words  | 2 Pages

    When Charlie was younger, his Aunt Helen molested him. That had a negative impact on Charlie’s life, considering he kept it a secret from everyone. He always found himself blaming for everything, which caused him to get depressed. Charlie’s depressive actions indicated that the event in which he was molested by his aunt show that child abuse has such a negative affect on the child that will last a lifetime. An online critic, Barbara Nicolosi, believes that child abuse has an affect by stating, “it is revealed that Charlie’s social dysfunction is actually rooted in his experience of child sexual abuse at the hands of a beloved aunt”. Because of Charlie’s difficult past having dealt with child abuse, he is not pleased to see his sister’s boyfriend slap her in the face. He tries to do something about it, but his sister defends her boyfriend telling Charlie not to tell anyone. Because of this event, Charlie is reminded of his Aunt Helen and his depression is triggered and begins having suicidal thoughts. Charlie then thinks of his aunt who abused him, causing him to get even more depressed. Child abuse is something that nobody should have to go through. Unfortunately, Charlie was victimized by his Aunt Helen and the thoughts haunt him to the point where he gets

    Read More

  • Character Analysis

    643 Words  | 2 Pages

    real reason he got blind. He knows that seeing the eclipse without protection wasn't the

    Read More

  • Character Analysis

    601 Words  | 2 Pages

    The novel Lord of the Flies was written by William Golding. Golding wanted the story to be about a group of young boys whose plane crashed on an island, trying to escape war. The whole concept of this was so that he can show what a group of people can become given a set of inflicting conflicts that can change them for better or for worst. He gives great detail on how they go from sane to insane in a matter of time and turn into someone completely different all together. One of the boys on the island is named Simon. Simon’s personality and traits are similar to Jesus Christ because they both posse a form of insight, spirituality, and compassion.

    Read More

  • Foolish Pride in Judith Guest's Ordinary People

    582 Words  | 2 Pages

    Calvin, Conrad's father tries to be helpful to everyone. He is very caring to his son, and tries very hard with his wife Beth. It seems that Cal gives himself away to everyone, making sure his family is ok, but never worried about himself.

    Read More

  • Schooled Gordon Korman Character Analysis

    817 Words  | 2 Pages

    Have you ever heard about the hippie who had to go to a Middle School after living on a remote farm in the novel Schooled by Gordon Korman? Well, Capricorn Anderson is a flower child who lives at Garland Farms until his grandmother, Rain, falls out of a plum tree, which changes this hippie’s life. Now, Cap has to go to a public middle school and live with Mrs.Donnelley, a social worker, which he is not prepared for.He is just a hippie with a soul of good, who is not prepared for physical fights, cursing, and even video games! He doesn’t understand this modern world; he’s as lost as a kit who couldn’t find her mother.

    Read More

  • Character Analysis: My Favorite Chaperone

    286 Words  | 1 Pages

    In the story My Favorite Chaperone, by Jean Davies Okimoto, I believe the theme is how working together makes life's struggles easier. The characters show this theme throughout the story. As children immigrants, the main characters struggle with combining a new culture with their family culture to find a new identity without bringing shame to their family. In the story, Maya, the main character, faces issues in how to fit in with a new world in America. In this new world there are different rules and expectations while she still has to respect and follow her family's traditions and rules. This conflict is shown when Maya wants to go to a school dance, but knows her parents would never let her go especially after she gets in trouble for

    Read More

  • Fly On The Wall Conformism

    1572 Words  | 4 Pages

    In her sophomore year, when her parents get divorced, she is thrown into emotional turmoil. Unable to cope with the idea of a disloyal father, she lashes out against her best friend, Katya, who plays a significant role in helping Gretchen discovery her sexuality.

    Read More

  • Daisy Miller Character Analysis

    380 Words  | 1 Pages

    Daisy Miller was used by Henry James to represent the American Stereotype in that time and to differentiate American and European customs. She was the “American flirt” in this story; very young, unsophisticated, and bold. In the time that this novella was written, it was not uncommon for Americans to visit and explore Europe. Europeans held a negative opinion of Americans due to the Americans’ spontaneous and often poor manners. Daisy’s character represented all Americans and Winterbourne represented the Europeans even though he, himself, was American as well.

    Read More

  • Louise Mallard Character Analysis

    1497 Words  | 3 Pages

    There is one clear main character, Mrs. Louise Mallard. The story is almost entirely focused on her, her feelings, and her personal mental journey from being a prisoner and a shell of a woman, living in an oppressive, patriarchal society within the confines of a marriage to the elation of newly acquired freedom and a rebirth of that that, for the first time, belongs to her solely.

    Read More

More about Gretchen Lutterman Character Analysis

Open Document