Character Clues

Character Analysis

Actions

Actions speak louder than words in Paperboy, and that applies to every character that Victor meets along the way. Ara T may say that he's going to sharpen up Victor's knife for him, but he ends up stealing it instead, despite his promise. And even though Victor's birth certificate shows that his father isn't biologically related to him, that doesn't matter—his father acts like a real father and shows Victor plenty of unconditional love and care, which matters much more than what's written on a lousy piece of paper.

Family Life

How people treat their family members is a pretty good indicator of who they really are in Paperboy. Victor can tell that his father is a good man because he cares for his family and treats Victor like his own kid, though they're technically not related. And Mam puts Victor above all others, putting herself in danger's way to help out Victor (who is like adopted family to her) and standing up to Ara T because he killed her brother. Finally, Mrs. Worthington has a complicated family life and fights on the regular with her husband, which reflects the confused and self-destructive person that she is.