Embedded Assessment Character Analysis

In the novel, Tangerine, the main character Paul Fisher makes many plot-changing decisions that impact himself along with the other characters. The changes he goes through makes the reader really reflect on what is happening to Paul, the way how he thinks of himself, what he thinks of others, and how other characters influence him to do certain things.

The self perception Paul has of himself changes what he does and limits what he does and says which is insecurity of himself. When he chose which kids to hang out with at his middle school it gave Paul the sense of feeling cared for and have the confidence to be around others.The confidence that he gained from this it made him have a better self perception. For example when he plays soccer he sees that he just as good or better at soccer than some of the kids which make him feel like he fits in for the first time. This is crucial for Paul because it developed him in a way where he is comfortable and feels he is safe and has security about himself. Lastly he feels accepted by some people which was very hard for him to get over before this and also through the whole book, and he also sees himself as this one person that can't fit in with anyone and just limits himself to certain things a such as his friends.

The things that Paul sees that others do not change how Paul perceives other characters in the story. After the student parent meeting after the sinkhole incident he flat out tells his dad that he does not pay attention to him. This is also crucial for him but also for his dad because it shows the reader how invested his dad is into Erik and himself as a person and what he does. Another example is when his mother is arguing with him about the IEP he sees all of the opportuniti...

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...Overall, the drastic changes Paul makes, in the book Tangerine, causes him to make decisions that change the plot and also the characters around him. Paul really does change throughout this novel and you might really have to pay attention to the tiny details to see these massive changes that he undergoes. Some of the things you may have to think about in a figurative sense or maybe even relate some of the things to yourself or the world depending on how Paul is changing. The real point in this is that Paul really didn't believe in himself, act for himself, or think about himself at the begging but throughout this book he changes just like we do by gaining confidence, mental and physical strength, and making decisions that are influenced by his parents or friends and those choices big or small could really change him but also his family and the people he cares about.