Character Analysis Of Hunters In The Snow By Tobias Wolff

Being told statements like, “You fat moron” and “You aren’t good for diddly,” a person eventually becomes discouraged and insecure. In Tobias Wolff’s story, “Hunters in the Snow,” main character, Tub is emotionally abused throughout the story. Tub’s two friends, Frank and Kenny haggle him about his personal appearance and sensitivity as he struggles throughout the story. Frustration and insecurities lead him to the conflict that he always tried to avoid. The emotional abuse causes Tub to be illogical and sensitive, but then eventually pushes him to become inconsiderate and self centered.

Tub, the protagonist of the story, is welcomed in the story right in the beginning. The attention on him is what makes the story. With his “sandwich and a pocket of cookies tumbled onto the snow”, promptly, he is identified as being fat and stubby (Arp 86). Not only does his name perceive him as being fat and stubby, but also when Kenny calls him a “beach ball with a hat on,” which provides an image of what Tub looks like (Arp 86). In the story, every action Tub does is a constant reminder of him being overweight. For example, he “had trouble getting through the fences” (Arp 88). Not only was Tub fat, but he was also out of the shape. While hunting, it was described “He stopped looking for

Tub became selfish from the emotional abuse from Kenny. Tub did not even feel guilty when he told Frank, “I left the direction on the table back there” (Arp 97). He left the directions that would have led them to the hospital to save Kenny’s life. He did not make Frank turn around to go get the map. Instead, “Tub kept at it” when he stuffed his mouth full of pancakes that Frank bought him (Arp 98). Tub receives verification that Frank does not care about Kenny’s life when they take the blankets off of him, “”They must have blown off,” Tub said. “They’re not doing him any good,” Frank said. “We might as well get some use out of them.”” (Arp