"Sucker"
By: Carson McCullers
About the Author
Carson McCullers was born on February 19, 1917 in Columbus, Georgia. Her original name was Lula Carson Smith. At first, she aspired to become a musician. But when she was diagnosed with rheumatic fever, McCullers had to make another decision of what her career would be. Carson McCullers published her first story, "Wunderkind", at the age of 19, and success came early to her. Other novels she published are "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" and "Reflection in a Golden Eye". Carson was also in a relationship with James Reeves McCullers Jr., and the got married on September 1937. Carson McCullers died on September 29, 1967 in Nyack, New York by a stroke.
Pre-Reading Reflection
Have you ever wanted the attention of someone who didn't even notice you?
Yes, I wanted the attention of someone who didn't even notice me.
How did that make you feel?
It made me feel excluded or isolated from everyone else.
How did you respond?
I responded by trying to get that person attention again.
Have you ever gotten mad at someone that you said something don't really mean?
Yes, I have said something bad at someone I have gotten mad at that I don't really mean.
How did you feel when you calmed down?
I felt that I needed to apologize to that person when I calmed down.
What did you do about the situation?
I resolved to apologize to the person and make things right between the person and I.
Yes, I wanted the attention of someone who didn't even notice me.
How did that make you feel?
It made me feel excluded or isolated from everyone else.
How did you respond?
I responded by trying to get that person attention again.
Have you ever gotten mad at someone that you said something don't really mean?
Yes, I have said something bad at someone I have gotten mad at that I don't really mean.
How did you feel when you calmed down?
I felt that I needed to apologize to that person when I calmed down.
What did you do about the situation?
I resolved to apologize to the person and make things right between the person and I.
Vocabulary
Despise: The term "despise" means to hate as used in the quote "If a person admires you a lot you despise and don't care - and it is the person who doesn't notice you that you are apt to admire." (Page 12)
Humiliated: The term "humiliated" means to make fun of, or embarrass, as used in the quote "Maybelle Watts, this senior at school, acted like she was the Queen of Sheba and even humiliated me." (Page 12)
Sarcastic: The term "sarcastic" means mocking as used in the quote "When she said no I remarked something sarcastic." (Page 19)
Humiliated: The term "humiliated" means to make fun of, or embarrass, as used in the quote "Maybelle Watts, this senior at school, acted like she was the Queen of Sheba and even humiliated me." (Page 12)
Sarcastic: The term "sarcastic" means mocking as used in the quote "When she said no I remarked something sarcastic." (Page 19)
Contrasting Ideas
Examples of when Pete is PROUD of his actions.
One example of when Pete is proud of his actions is when he brought Sucker to the movies with him during Pete's date with Maybelle as said in the quote: "Sucker looked a little silly - walking like a drunk with his eyes glued to the movie. He was wiping his reading classes on his shirttail and his knickers flopped down. He went on until he got to the first few rows where the kids usually sit. I never did punch Maybelle. But I got to thinking it was good to have both of them at the movie with the money I earned." (Page 17) Another example of when Pete is proud of his actions is when he talks with Sucker during sleep. He is sharing his feelings and secrets with Sucker and comforts Sucker. For example, "We talked for a good while that night. His voice was fast and it was like he had been saving up these things to tell me for a long time." (Page 16) Another example of when Pete is proud of his actions is when he treats Sucker nicely just as Maybelle treated him nicely. He had a changed his mind about Sucker. For example, "You're a swell kid, Sucker," I said. It seemed to me suddenly that I did like him more than anybody else I knew - more than any other boy, more than my sisters, more in a certain way even than Maybelle. I felt good all over and it was like when they play sad music in the movies. I wanted to show Sucker how much I really thought of him and make up for the way I always treated him." (Page 15) |
Examples of when Pete REGRETS his actions.
One example of when Pete regrets his actions is when he realizes that being mean to Sucker was very wrong. He felt bad. For example, "I was sleepy and tried to make him hush and when he wouldn't I kicked at him. That was just one of the things I remembered. It seemed to me he had always been a lonesome kid. I felt bad." (Page 15) Another example of when Pete regrets his actions is when he argued and made fun of Sucker the night Maybelle dumped him. Pete wanted to apologize to Sucker, but he is afraid to apologize to Sucker because he had toughened up. He regrets the argument he made with Sucker that night. For example, "Sucker was gone when I woke up the next day. And later when I wanted to apologize as I had planned he looked at me in this new hard way so that I couldn't say a word." (Page 21) Another example of when Pete regrets his actions is when he would lie to Sucker every time. For example, "Sucker used to always remember and believe every word I said. That's how he got his nickname. Once a couple of years ago I told him that if he'd jump off our garage with a umbrella it would act as a parachute and he wouldn't fall hard. He did it and busted his knee." (Page 12) |