Peter's Status: Class Clown or Comic? Anonymous College

Richard Price’s The Breaks details the life of Peter Keller, a troubled young man fresh out of college and trying to find his calling in the world. Throughout the novel Peter has trouble
defining himself and what he should do with his life. While transitioning through many jobs such as a telemarketer, postal office employee, and teacher, it is not until he declares himself a
comic that he achieves some self-definition. However, is this self-definition as a comic true to Peter’s characteristics? Would he even succeed as a comic? The text supports the argument
that while Peter has a knack for witty banter, it is not comical enough or befitting his nature to become a stand-up comedian.

In part one, Peter is out of college and is back to living with his parents when the reader first sees his doubt and contemplation on becoming a comic. He is sitting in his living room watching Johnny Carson’s guest comedian, Herman Contardo, and contemplating what his friend said to him at graduation about becoming a comic. Peter thinks about this, telling himself, “I couldn’t be a comic. A class clown does not a comic make” (Price 25). He acknowledges the fact that it is one thing to make friends laugh in a casual and familiar setting and another...