The River Why

894 Words4 Pages
In the literary work The River Why, by James Duncan, the reader is introduced to a high school situation between Gus and Barf-breath. From early on in the text we can infer Gus is a very inquisitive young man; he is particularly intrigued by a Chicano student nicknamed Barf-breath. Throughout the story James Duncan is constantly describing Barf-breath in different literary fashions. He refers to Barf-breath as a dirty, hungry, tired, and sickly looking boy. When referring to Gus, the author created a more compassionate aura. Equally important, the author noted the social class diversity between the two boys. With this in mind, we take a look at the character labeled Barf-breath. Throughout the story we read of Gus examining Barf-breath from afar, and taking note of his strange actions. In the text it mentions his dark and dirty emaciated hands, his dirty tired and sickly impression, as well as the fact that he is Hispanic. With this in mind, we can begin to form a picture of Barf-breath, which not only adds depth to a story, but also an all-around more interesting read. The author makes it out to seem that Barf-breath is a lower class student with very few friends, by the information he has decided to include. In the same manner, when it is mentioned that Barf-breath’s yard was stomped to, “hard bare dirt, by the bevy of kids who played in it,” the reader may come to realize that maybe Barf-breaths family life is chaotic. In conjunction with the possibility of being bullied at school as well as the new found knowledge of his family life, the reader can start to understand Barf-breath on a more deep and personal level. While the reader is beginning to piece together the puzzle that conclusively is Barf-breath, Gus is as well. Duncan secretly added a connection between the reader and the narrator. The reader and Gus are beginning to realize people aren’t always as
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