Character Clues
Character Analysis
Clothing
Although the characters in The Wild Children aren't exactly fashionistas, their clothing choices say a lot about who they are.
For example, Alex is initially frightened by Peter's crew due to their disheveled clothes. It's easy to see why: When Alex first meets Peter, all he can focus on are his ratty clothes and "rag-wrapped feet" that "protruded from the holes in outsize boots, the leather in shreds" (3.37). If you had any doubts about the fact that Peter was born and bred on the streets, this should seal the deal.
Likewise, Alex's clothing reveals a lot of his relationship with these boys. Alex comes from a middle-class background, so he arrives in Moscow sporting a "heavy coat and strong boots and [a] warm cap" (3.40). This makes him stand out like a sore thumb. Additionally, it also reveals a new side of Alex's character: He feels uncomfortable having such nice clothes when his friends are decked out in mere rags. Although the clothes don't make the man, they'll sure tell you a lot about him.
Actions
In The Wild Children, actions speak way louder than words.
Just look at the way that Peter leads his band. He could easily act like a tyrant, hoarding all of the food for himself and treating his crew like personal servants. But he doesn't. Instead, he vows to treat his friends like he would want to be treated himself, sharing everything he has and putting himself at grave risk just to give them a warm meal. The dude even "stole bread from the government store" (9.68) for his friends, which is riskier than tap-dancing on top of the Titanic.
By comparison, this is way different from how Boris acts throughout the novel. While Peter refuses to do anything shady in order to earn money, Boris is willing to do anything as long as it pays well. We see evidence of this in the way that he starts smuggling illegal goods with another gang, despite Peter's strong disapproval. And that's not even getting into the fact that he frames Peter and co. for crimes they didn't commit.
See what we mean? It's easy to see how these two kids' actions speak volumes about the people they are on the inside.
Family Life
Here at Shmoop, our fams are our jam. Try saying that five times fast. Tongue twisters aside, the idea of family plays a pretty big role in The Wild Children.
After all, many of Alex's early beliefs are inspired by those of his father. Sure, he has plenty to beef with him about (what twelve-year-old doesn't?), but he knows that good old dad has his back when push comes to shove. Until he's arrested by the secret police, that is. This event shatters Alex's belief in his dad's teachings: For example, Alex was always confused by the fact that "since the civil war and the revolution nobody was really safe, yet Alex's father behaved as if they were" (1.5). Now there's no doubt—no one is safe in the U.S.S.R.
Just compare this with the other boys in Peter's crew. Ivan, for instance, comes from a long line of circus performers who were also kidnapped by the Soviet secret police. We can see this family influence in countless ways, from Ivan's top-notch thievery skills to his legendary "'human spinning top'" (9.59) routine. Although all of the kids in Peter's crew have lost their families in one way or another, they each carry a piece of their legacies with them in their own unique way.