Character Clues

Character Analysis

Dialogue

Though Calo is our narrator, we get to witness plenty of conversations with other folks, and when we do, we better understand who they are. The coolest thing about this is when somebody says something we'd never expect them to, thereby showing us a whole secret side to themselves. A great example of this happens with Francesco after he finds his favorite goat shot dead by Mr. Hodge. He says:

"You shoot my goat. My heart, it go like this." He snaps his fingers. Then he drops his hand. "Now you better shoot me." (24.15)

Through these few words, we understand that Francesco—bold, outspoken, loud Francesco—has a very soft and sentimental side too. His heart is broken by the loss of his goats, and while we might have been able to understand this through descriptions of him sulking or crying or some such, his pain is that much clearer—and better felt by us as readers—through his small declaration to Dr. Hodge.

Action

Another way that we learn a ton about characters in this book is through their actions. And while some of the actions are pretty hard to miss—like the people who chase Calo at the end (who we know are bad guys by their decision to do this alone), or Frank who comes to Calo's aid without missing a beat on a number of occasions throughout the book—other actions are subtler. And these subtle actions sometimes give us meaningful clues to a character.

Let's look at Carlo for an example. Carlo is a good guy. He is big and kind and gentle, and Calogero even says that it is Carlo that brings them all together and makes them a family. Always promoting peace and non-violence, Carlo is the last person to overreact to a situation. But just because he doesn't overreact, doesn't mean he isn't reacting more inside than he lets on. So when Francesco takes his gun and is about to walk down to the tracks and wait to scare Willy Rogers, Carlo tries to reason with him—and then Calo says:

Carlo twists his kitchen towel so hard, I think it will rip. (2.44)

In other words, though Carlo may be playing the part of cool, calm, and collected on the outside, through this action of twisting the kitchen towel, we're clued into the fact that inside, Carlo is majorly twisted up about his brother acting so rashly and taking such a risk.

Props

No one's prop lets us know more about them in this book than the awful saloon keeper, Mr. Wilson's, stuffed alligator head that hangs above the entrance to the saloon. Calo tells us:

An enormous alligator head hangs from iron prongs above the door […] The ferocious mouth gapes and I see his yellow teeth. (2.82)

This prop is like a big sign without any words on it, warning everyone who passes by that the man who owns this spot means business and isn't afraid to bite. It sends an intimidating and scary message, and pretty much puts everyone on notice. It's the perfect prop for Mr. Wilson and his saloon, since he winds up being one of the ringleaders of the mob at the end, and his saloon is a place where the mob gains momentum.

Can you find other props in this book that clue us into people's character?