Importance Of Direct Character Presentation In Tobias Wolff's Hunters In The Snow
Tobias Wolff's "Hunters in the Snow" is a short story about three hunters named Frank, Kenny and Tub. The three men go hunting in the same location they have hunted for the past two years, where they failed to spot anything in the years before. Many different events take place on this trip. Kenny and Frank spot tracks that lead them to posted property; they receive permission to hunt on the land but loose the tracks. Kenny shoots the owner's dog and then threatens Tub. Out of fear, Tub shoots Kenny. In some cases, we discover information about the characters by direct character presentation. This is when we are told straight out what they are like. In other cases, we are forced to obtain information about the hunters through indirect character presentation which occurs when we are shown a
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character's personality through their actions.
Tub is presented as an overweight man with a gland problem. Later we learn he is overweight because he enjoys eating. Direct and indirect presentation plays a huge role in the reader getting to know Tub. A good example of indirect character presentation takes place when Tub is trailing Frank and Kenny on the way back to the truck. "He sat down on a stump and wiped his face. He ate both the sandwiches and half the cookies, taking his own sweet time."(89). This takes place after the men take time to eat lunch and Tub eats a hard boiled egg and a stick of celery and claims to be on a diet. This is important to the story because the men all constantly tease Tub of his weight. The reader somewhat finds out early that Tub being overweight is in fact more than a gland problem. Another case of indirect character presentation is when they are in the woods searching for tracks back to their truck. "The snow was shaded and had a glaze on it. It held up Kenny and Frank but Tub kept falling through. As he
kicked forward, the edge of the crust bruised his shins."(89). This works as an example of indirect presentation because it states that the snow held up Kenny and Frank but not Tub, proving that Tub is heavier than the other two. Another important example of indirect presentation is when Frank and Kenny leave Tub trailing behind. "He quickened his pace, breasting hard against into the drifts, fighting away the snow with his knees and elbows. He heard his heart and felt the flush on his face but he never once stopped."(89). This plays an important role in the indirect character presentation of Tub because it shows that even though the elements have made it difficult for him to keep up he is a determined man and will not stop no matter what mother nature hands him. The fourth important example of indirect presentation I chose was when Frank and Tub went back to the farmhouse to call for help and Tub said, "My friend shot your dog" (93). Since Tub had the decency to tell the man that his dog was shot shows that he is a compassionate person. "Hunters in the snow" shows the personality of three very different hunters. They learn a lot about each other on this trip and are forced to overcome many different obstacles. The men also learn that it is ok to show their true self and not to be ashamed by anything because your flaws are what make you an individual. Readers learn the same lesson after reading this story and some may even become inspired not to hide anything, and not worry what other will think of you.
character's personality through their actions.
Tub is presented as an overweight man with a gland problem. Later we learn he is overweight because he enjoys eating. Direct and indirect presentation plays a huge role in the reader getting to know Tub. A good example of indirect character presentation takes place when Tub is trailing Frank and Kenny on the way back to the truck. "He sat down on a stump and wiped his face. He ate both the sandwiches and half the cookies, taking his own sweet time."(89). This takes place after the men take time to eat lunch and Tub eats a hard boiled egg and a stick of celery and claims to be on a diet. This is important to the story because the men all constantly tease Tub of his weight. The reader somewhat finds out early that Tub being overweight is in fact more than a gland problem. Another case of indirect character presentation is when they are in the woods searching for tracks back to their truck. "The snow was shaded and had a glaze on it. It held up Kenny and Frank but Tub kept falling through. As he
kicked forward, the edge of the crust bruised his shins."(89). This works as an example of indirect presentation because it states that the snow held up Kenny and Frank but not Tub, proving that Tub is heavier than the other two. Another important example of indirect presentation is when Frank and Kenny leave Tub trailing behind. "He quickened his pace, breasting hard against into the drifts, fighting away the snow with his knees and elbows. He heard his heart and felt the flush on his face but he never once stopped."(89). This plays an important role in the indirect character presentation of Tub because it shows that even though the elements have made it difficult for him to keep up he is a determined man and will not stop no matter what mother nature hands him. The fourth important example of indirect presentation I chose was when Frank and Tub went back to the farmhouse to call for help and Tub said, "My friend shot your dog" (93). Since Tub had the decency to tell the man that his dog was shot shows that he is a compassionate person. "Hunters in the snow" shows the personality of three very different hunters. They learn a lot about each other on this trip and are forced to overcome many different obstacles. The men also learn that it is ok to show their true self and not to be ashamed by anything because your flaws are what make you an individual. Readers learn the same lesson after reading this story and some may even become inspired not to hide anything, and not worry what other will think of you.