Antagonist

Character Role Analysis

Dad

We hate to say that Manny's dad is the bad guy in this book… but it's pretty true. We're not saying he's an entirely bad guy—he has moments when he's trying hard to be kind to Mom or when he's sweet to Pedi—but then there's that whole trying-to-shoot-his-wife incident, and the fact that he scares the poop out of Manny just for getting a ride home from a teacher. And let's not forget his drunken rages. Yeah, Manny's dad might not be a typical villain, but he is someone Manny has to struggle with throughout his life. And that makes him an antagonist in this book.