Discuss Peter's Character? Is He The Protagonist Or Antagonist?

Focus on one or more of the following questions: Discuss Peter's character. Is he the protagonist or antagonist? Is his characterization symbolic? If so, of what?
Peter is the protagonist as he did not mock or acted aggressively towards Jerry. Peter had no intentions to harm Jerry. Neither, he had any intentions to initiate conversation with Jerry. He was simply enjoying his Sunday afternoon in the Central Park. Peter’s character symbolize success and fortune. He is a wealthy man who is married and has two daughters. He is sociable and appears to be well educated and well behaved. Peter can be compared to the parakeets as he is tamed like them to act properly in the society.
Focus on one or more of the following questions: Discuss Jerry's character. Is he the protagonist or antagonist? Is his characterization symbolic? If so, of what?
He is the protagonist because the story is based on him. He is the antagonist because he annoys Peter by asking so many personal questions. He makes so many rude comments towards him such as “That’s the way the cookie crumbles” when Peter tells he doesn’t want to have more children. At the end of the story, Jerry provokes Peter to fight him by pushing him off the bench. He mocks and insults Peter. Jerry’s character symbolize loneliness. He is lonely and tries to have a meaningful conversation with Peter. Jerry can be compared to the caged animals from the zoo who is separated from society by “bars” mentioned in the story. Jerry’s character also symbolize impoverishment and deprivation. He is poor and lives in a rooming house. He is the imprisoned zoo animal himself, who fails to communicate with