Jim Starks
by: David Barrett
Honorable
Jim is a very honorable character. He wanted to turn himself in to the police, even when his parents told him not to. He only wanted to do what was right, and could be trusted with just about anything.
Rebellious
Although he was a good kid, Jim could get into some trouble. He often left his house without telling his parents. The reason his mother kept moving was that Jim got into trouble and she did not want to have to deal with that. She ran away from her fears.
Determined
Jim tried as hard as he could to stay out of trouble. The only thing that made him snap was being called a chicken. When he was confronted by the bullies, he did his best to stay out of a fight. He gave in because he feared being stabbed or being called a chicken.
Problems with Jim's family
Jim is afraid of being called "chicken." But in his own house, his father acts like a chicken all the time. When his parents are arguing, Jim's mother takes complete control of the argument and his father just goes along with her. His father never stands up for anyone and always backs down.
Did Jim change?
Jim did not change much at all throughout the movie. He kept the same mentality and views on everything. He wanted his family to be more normal, and tried his best to remain calm and not aggressive toward antagonists. He would experience flashes of anger when provoked to a certain point, but he could usually show great self-control.
Plato's mismatched socks
Plato's socks demonstrate that he was always nervous and anxious. When he put them on, he was too busy thinking about other things to notice that they were different colors. This was probably because he was thinking about his family and wondering how he was going to get through the day.
Theme
The theme of the movie is family. Each of the main characters has a family problem, and they just want to be normal. For Jim, his parents argue all the time, his mother runs away from her trouble, and his father is a chicken. For Plato, his father has never been there for him, and his mother does not care for him. Judy's father does not show that he loves her, even though she tries to get his attention.
Why was Jim afraid of being "chicken?"
Jim was afraid of being "chicken" because he needed to show himself that he was a man. His father would never stand up for him, and always let other people push him around. In the end, however, Jim's father finally stepped up to the plate and helped Jim.