Essay on Choices: Confidence and Tangerine Middle

Submitted By Brian-Njihia
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EA #1: Analytical Essay
RELA: Netwall Choices
The book Tangerine, by Edward Bloor, focuses mainly on Paul Fisher, a seventh grade student who has just moved to Tangerine County. In his new home, Paul faces frequent struggles as he fights to illustrate to everyone, especially his parents, who he really is. In spite of these predicaments, Paul succeeds and is able to prove his worth to his friends and family. Throughout all of this, the choices Paul’s parents make influence him the most and cause him to be the person he develops into.

One significant choice Paul’s parents made was not telling Paul the truth about his eyes, or more specifically, who caused it. The reason for this was Paul’s parents didn’t want Paul to abhor Erik, who was responsible. This choice resulted in Paul’s low self value and self confidence as he viewed his eye problem as his responsibility causing him to look down on himself. This set off the fear that Paul had for Erik which led to his trepidation of Arthur as well. Another consequence was Erik’s mind-set and future actions. Keeping the truth from Paul led Erik to deem that he could get away with anything and cause all the mayhem he wished. For instance, when Erik has Arthur lash out toward Luis, all Arthur and him do is walk away, with neither an insinuation of fear or sympathy. Another example is when Erik and Arthur destroy all the mailboxes. They were so confident neither one of them cared to disperse of any evidence. In brief, this choice caused Erik’s overconfidence and later downfall.

Another very important and influential choice made by Paul’s parents was allowing him to attend Tangerine Middle School. This decision gave Paul a second chance to play soccer. He also became more mentally tough as he learned to hold his own weight in Tangerine Middle. For example, when he was confronted by Erik and Arthur, he did not fear or run but actually caused them to run away. Another example was when he spoke out and admitted to witnessing Arthur kill Luis. Before entering Tangerine Middle he never would’ve had the courage to speak up and out against Erik and Arthur. Allowing him to attend Tangerine also gave him the chance to gain new friendships and taught him to learn to look at the world and the people in it from a different perspective, considering that that section of Tangerine County is more of a low-income place. A negative consequence of Paul attending Tangerine Middle was his later expulsion from all Tangerine County Public Schools. In the long run, this choice proved worth the while as Paul’s mentality became tougher for the better. A third and final
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