Introduction
Paul is a 16-year old boy who was brought up by his father and whose mother died soon after he was born. The narrative does not contain any flashbacks which might express the lack of the protagonist’s ties with the past. Paul’s appearance plays an essential role in the understanding of his personality and emotional state. The character’s imagery reflects his melancholic disposition and a negative attitude to life. He is tall and very thin, with a narrow chest and cramped shoulders. His lips are always twitching, and his eyebrows are often raised, which is his way of expressing irritation and disappointment with the people around him. His eyes are described as particularly shiny and dramatic with large pupils, which might mean that his inner energy and his very self are trapped inside of his weak asthenic body. Paul’s teachers, peers, and even his father perceive and judge him by his obvious features, ignoring the complex personality hidden inside. Such treatment might be the reason why Paul feels misunderstood and uncomfortable in his own skin.
Main body
Paul’s clothes are depicted as worn out, frayed, and outgrown, which might lead a reader to a false conclusion that the character is untidy or does not care about his appearance. The lack of a mother’s care and support might indeed have led the protagonist to a seemingly indifferent attitude to his appearance. However, some fancy details of his clothing tell us another story. Paul wears an opal pin, which might express his desire to break free from the dull and monotonous environment surrounding him at school and at home. The red carnation in the buttonhole might be the symbol of passion and charisma hidden inside Paul. Since he admires actors and singers, these odd and quirky details may be his way of bringing drama and excitement to the depressing motif of everyday life. The extravagant accessories are not favored by his teachers, who see them as Paul’s way of provoking and irritating others.
It is worth mentioning that the teachers characterize Paul as disobeying and insolent, while he feels a real physical aversion to them, which he cannot hide. For instance, when his teacher tried to guide his hand and touched it while the protagonist was writing on the blackboard, he took it off with a shudder, expressing his uncontrollable disgust with this person. In confrontational dialogues, Paul tries to be as calm and indifferent as possible, but he often uses irony and smiles against his enemies. He thinks that others might examine his facial expressions to figure him out, so smiling is his way of protecting himself from wrongful judgment. It seems like he wants to create a specific picture of himself in the eyes of others, which would be different from his own perception of himself. Thus, Paul might be scared that others might notice his low self-esteem and anxiety.
Paul is accustomed to lying and pretending, which makes him a perfect usher. He is described as gracious and smiling while doing his job as if it were a pleasure for him. The only time when the protagonist feels delighted is when he hears the first sounds of the symphony at the concert hall. It is worth mentioning that he does not admire the music itself but the atmosphere of the venue, which evokes his emotions and reminds him of the world that he hopes to become a part of. At such moments, his inner world comes to life, and he finally finds peace. However, after the concert, Paul feels irritated, as if he woke up too early from a perfect dream he did not want to leave. He enjoys watching wealthy and beautiful actors and singers around the hotel, dreaming of the magical world he has no access to. Paul fantasizes about being a part of this world, but the reality brings him back to the dull and ugly setting of Pittsburg’s suburbs, which he despises.
His father does not respect Paul’s unique character and wants him to resemble the promising young neighbor who works for a local steel magnate and seems to have a bright future ahead of him. While the protagonist does not like the stories about his neighbor, he rather enjoys listening to the tales about fancy faraway places such as Monte Carlo or Venice. Paul’s interest might be explained by his desire to escape his dreary surroundings and run away from his teachers and father. His wishes to escape led him to become a thief when he steals the money from the company he worked for.
Conclusion
Finally, the climax of the plot is reached when Paul’s dreams of leaving Pittsburg to come true, but his quest to New York signifies the beginning of his downfall. The protagonist feels extremely happy upon arrival, as he enjoys the luxurious setting of the Waldorf Hotel and the Tiffany store, where he spends the stolen money. However, he sometimes doubts if he truly belongs to these places because he might have been lying to himself about being different or special. Similar to a little child who throws tantrums to get what he wants, Paul might be perceived as a selfish teenager, who did not care about anyone or anything more than his dream and his own well-being. The death of Paul creates ambiguity as it is caused by either his questionable principles and youthful high spirit, or the indifference and the lack of understanding from others.
References
Cather, W. (2005). Paul’s Case. Kessinger Publishing.