Essay Questions

How does the author explain segretation to the reader without making it the central theme of the novel?

The author rather subliminally lets the reader know that there is segregation in Memphis during Victor's childhood not by actually describing it or naming it, but by bringing the subject up in conversations between the characters, or in narrations by Victor himself. This is very clever because it enables the reader to understand the different viewpoints of each of the characters on issues of race and integration without labelling them; for example, Rat's parents are so concerned about mandatory integration that they are thinking of taking Rat out of school in the city and putting him in a school out in the country where there are only white kids, ensuring that he will stay in a segragated school almost by default. Victor's perspective is also clear when he says that he judges a person on their soul, not on their skin color. Social implications of segregation are also mentioned, such as Mam only being allowed to ride at the front of the bus, or go to the Zoo, if she is accompanying her white charge - she cannot go there on her own. The author frames the segregation in a way that enables the reader see how unjust and illogical it is, which is a better way of teaching than describing the way in which segregation worked, and the challenges faced in getting people to accept integration.

What was it about the paper route that brought out Victor's self-confidence?

The paper route forced Victor to talk to people, and it made him realize that they liked him for the person he was, rather than for what he was struggling to say. He also met people on the route who took the trouble to listen to him and try to express himself, rather than getting impatient or looking at him as if he were either stupid or part of their entertainment. Mr Spiro made him feel intelligent; Mrs Worthington made him feel that he was kind, and a good listener. TV Boy made him realize that he was just as guilty of judging others by appearance than the people who judged him for his speech difficulties. The route gave Victor the opportunity to look at himself differently which in turn gave him the confidence to look his stutter in the face instead of trying to hide it from people by not saying anything at all.

Victor's birth father is "unknown". How does discovering this change his relationship with the man he has called "Dad" all his life?

Victor is an intelligent and thoughtful child and so is able to really think about what being a father really means. The man who is his birth father may not even know that he has a son, but if he does, he has never done anything to find him, know him or love him. On the other hand, the man who is raising him as his own goes to great lengths to encourage him and show him that he is special and loved. Bringing Victor back something from every trip he goes on out of town shows him that his father is thinking of him even when he is away on business. Going outside to play baseball whilst still in dress shoes shows Victor that his father puts a higher priority on spending quality time with him than he does with resting after an exhausting trip, or a hard day at work, and even more than getting changed into something more comfortable. It also shows him that since baseball is what he is good at, it is something that his father chooses to do with him to show him that he is talented and great at things other than speaking aloud. He also acts as though Victor's stutter is not something that he feels should take his confidence away. Again, Victor shows that he realizes that a person's actions are the mark of their soul, and that being a dad is not the same as being a biolgical father.