Protagonist is a literature teacher word for "leading character." In the short story "Raymond's Run," Hazel Elizabeth Deborah Parker is the protagonist. She is also known as "Squeaky." I like describing "protagonist" as the "central character." The reason I like the word "central" is because it makes me think of a pivot point that turns or that things can revolve around. Thinking of a protagonist in this way really highlights his/her central importance to the...
Protagonist is a literature teacher word for "leading character." In the short story "Raymond's Run," Hazel Elizabeth Deborah Parker is the protagonist. She is also known as "Squeaky." I like describing "protagonist" as the "central character." The reason I like the word "central" is because it makes me think of a pivot point that turns or that things can revolve around. Thinking of a protagonist in this way really highlights his/her central importance to the entire story. It also shows how a protagonist can turn/change. That's definitely true of Hazel. She begins the story as an aloof and tough girl. She cares most about herself and intentionally distances herself from her peers. She sees other girls as competition to be beaten. But by the end of the story, she has taken on a softer persona. She begins coaching her disabled brother and realizes that other girls are not always there to be competed against.
And she nods to congratulate me and then she smiles. And I smile. We stand there with this big smile of respect between us. It’s about as real a smile as girls can do for each other, considering we don’t practice real smiling every day, you know, cause maybe we too busy being flowers or fairies or strawberries instead of something honest and worthy of respect . . . you know . . . like being people.
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