Right before the break on (my) page 213 — this is the final break before the end of the second to last chapter — the text reads: "Vogelman made a bony steeple with his arms. Gazing at the plate, he found his eyes were misty and he couldn't read the catcher's sign. He looked again and saw Roy, in full armor, mounted on a black charger. Vogelman stared hard, his arms held high so as not to balk. Yes, there he was coming at home with a long lance as thick as a young tree. He rubbed his arm across his eyes and keeled over in a dead faint."
This story is filled with people who see Roy for what he is and/or see him for what he wants to be. Which character sees him most clearly and which character is bamboozled by his talent?
This question is difficult to answer because I think Roy goes through a significant transformation at the end of the novel, which alters the accuracy of different peoples' perceptions of him. To answer this question, I will look at the Roy we see for most of the novel, the person prior to his transformation.
ReplyDeleteI think Memo understands Roy more than anyone else, which allows her to take advantage of his flaws. She sees that his true ambitions are glory and fame, and that he is easily tempted by a variety of incentives. It is unfortunate for Roy that the one who sees him for what he is happens to be someone who does not have his best interests in mind.
The people who can't see Roy clearly are the fans. They are totally bamboozled by his talent; his disregard for the fans and sole desire for glory go unnoticed by them. If they understood the selfish motives that drove him to greatness, they would not have such faith in him.
Memo knows Roy's flaws and is able to exploit them. She knows what baseball really means to him and knows what he is really after. That said, it is clear that Memo knows the true Roy best because Roy has been able to make himself out to be a hero on the field but he reveals his true character off the field. The fans are not able to see a player for who he truly is, merely just a 'superstar' on the field. It is off the field where we see a flawed hero in Roy.
ReplyDeleteI think that the person who sees him the most clearly is the Judge. As horrible as he may be, he is able to pick up on Roy’s greed and his determination for power and fame, and exploit it for his own benefit. He knows that Roy needs money to support himself and Memo, and uses that knowledge to earn a profit. The Judge, especially at the end of the story, recognizes that Roy is just out for himself and not for the team, so he is confident that with the right temptations he will be able to convince Roy to fix the game. In addition to the money, he sees that Roy is smug and cocky and lets him know when he goes to ask for a higher salary.
ReplyDeleteThe person who is bamboozled by Roy’s talent is Pop Fisher. He believes that Roy is the answer that he needs to redeem his past, and bring him a championship. He sees Roy for his talent instead his personality, where he is clearly out for himself. Roy refuses to switch bats, and at the very end Pop plays him even though he is clearly not himself. Pop tries to use Roy’s talent and ability to win a championship, but disregards his motives and off the field actions.
I the think person that can see Roy for what he truly is is Harriet Bird. She realizes, just from one conversation, that all Roy is looking for is glory. She sees that he doesn't have some greater goal in life, he doesn't have something he wants to learn or grow from in baseball. She sees Roy for what he really is, a young, naive, boy, who is using his talent for the wrong reasons. Although I do not believe that he deserves to die for these reasons, Harriet attempted to kill him shows that she can see right through his great talent.
ReplyDeleteI think that the person who was most bamboozled by Roy's talent was Bump. When Roy came along, bump saw how easily he played the game, he saw what a natural he was. He realized that he was replaceable and that Roy could steel his position out from under him. He was so afraid of Roy, so afraid of being replaced, that he killed himself in his effort to outshine roy.
Roy is a complex, multifaceted person and thus I believe that both Memo and Iris know him the best. While these two women are stark contrasts of each other, they both intimately know the different sides of Roy's personality and aspirations. As previously mentioned, Memo can see and manipulate materialistic attitude and Iris is able to dig down deeper into Roy and unveil his softer side. I believe that the person that was most unaware of Roy's true self, however, was Pop. Through Roy's very last game Pop put all of his trust into Roy, relying on him to want to win for the Knights, Pop, and all of baseball. Pop was aware Roy's fatal flaws, but unable to conclude that he was a flawed hero and the overall reason of why the Knights didn't win.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the Judge sees Roy most clearly. From the outset, the Judge always seems to have Roy’s number. He doesn’t bother to give Roy a raise at first, as he knows Roy would be reluctant to leave baseball regardless of salary. When he does offer that money, he baits Roy into accepting the offer by putting everything Roy holds dear at stake, particularly his future in baseball and his future in Memo. He knows exactly how to manipulate Roy’s emotions and talent and isn’t afraid to do so. Further, the title itself, “judge,” automatically implies objective and impartial perception. It makes sense that a judge, indeed, out of everyone else would be able to see Roy most clearly.
ReplyDeleteFor all the reasons others have said, I agree that Pop is very bamboozled by Roy’s talent. However, I think that the person most bamboozled by Roy’s talent—out of all the characters in the book—is Roy himself. So often, Roy sees himself as the hero he dreams to be, not as the person he is at the moment; because of this, he ignores the warnings of others and omens. This perception precludes him from taking other people’s advice and instructions and therefore limits his growth both as an athlete and as a person. Roy is so drunk on his own talent, so dependent on it for his identity, that once he is faced with the chance of losing his athletic ability, he will do anything to preserve his chance of getting it back, down to sacrificing his integrity, any loyalty he ever felt for the Knights, and even his beloved Wonderboy—all for something he has lost forever.
I believe that Memo, the Judge, and Iris all see Roy for who he truly is. Obviously, the three characters deal with Roy's flaws very differently. Memo knows Roy longs for companionship and women, so she bribes him with her company so that she can manipulate him. The judge, knowing that Roy loves Memo and needs money to support her, offers Roy money that would win Memo over so he can be with her. Iris knows that Roy is slightly childish and does not have his priorities in order. However she thinks that she can change Roy. She believes that she can influence Roy enough to the point where he becomes a decent human being.
ReplyDeleteThe two people I believe that were in the most awe of Roy's talent were Bump and more obviously, Vogelman. Bump saw Roy's natural talent and was jealous that he might take the spotlight from Bump. Bump could not see Roy's flaws and ended up trying to beat out Roy so much that he killed himself. Also Vogelman was so scared of Roy that he fainted on the mound in front of everyone just because of Roy's intimidation.
I think that Iris and the Judge are the only two people in the novel that see Roy for who he truly is. The judge was always able to capitalize on Roy's weaknesses showing that he knew Roy enough to find these weaknesses. Multiple times in the book the Judge persuades Roy in different ways, allowing Roy to be manipulated into throwing the game. Iris sees Roy clearly because she understands that he has a softer side that needs to be brought to the surface. She can bring this out in him by being in a relationship, but Roy continuously shakes Iris off only going after Memo. Iris also sees that Roy needs to grow up and mature from the kid he still is. The Whammer was clearly the person that was the most bamboozled by Roy's talent. He underestimated Roy from the beginning and Roy ended up beating him, and in a way ending his career.
ReplyDeleteAs others have stated, I too believe the Judge was the one who most saw Roy for who he truly is. Unfortunately, the Judge sees Roy's darker, yet more genuine side. He knows that Roy loves the game of baseball, but that he also loves Memo and money even more. The Judge realizes that when Roy becomes fixed on wanting something, he will go to whatever lengths to obtain it. This manifests itself when Roy takes the fix in the Knights' final game, as the Judge knows that Roy is crazy for Memo and can be tempted by money to sway Memo into marrying him.
ReplyDeleteHowever, unlike many said I believe Iris is the one who is bamboozled by Roy's talent. Iris has confidence in Roy's ability to make the right decisions, to be the hometown hero, and to become a baseball great. She trusts in him, and it leads to her inevitable downfall. The story is of a tragic hero, and sadly the one person who helped Roy briefly come back into the spotlight after his slump, is the one who sees Roy's true side the least. When it boils down, Roy is a ballplayer chasing women and fame, not caring about his fans or his effect on the game of baseball besides his individual statistics.
Iris is the character who sees the true change of Roy from an egotistical person to one who truly loves the game of baseball. The Judge is a man who knows Roy's flaws and exploits them to his for own greedy needs. When Iris gets hit in the face by a baseball she tells Roy to get back out on the field and win the game, which is what he truly wants to do. Unfortunately at that point it is too late for Roy to turn around from his mistakes. Iris alway knew there was a better side to Roy. In the end, his self-interest was his ultimate downfall. The person that is bamboozled by his talent is definitely Pop. Pop in the beginning is a very angry and miserable with his job as the Knight's manager. Pop sees hope for a championship. When Roy had his slump, Pop tried to help him get of it because he did not want his shining star to burn out.
ReplyDeleteI think that Memo and the Judge know exactly who Roy is because they are the only people who deny him things throughout the novel. The Judge denies Roy more money and Memo refuses to sleep with him for a while. This shows that they are not as awed with Roy as some might be, such as the fans who are mesmerized with Roy's unbelievable talent. However the Judge and Memo rarely praise his talent perhaps because they are interested in other things besides the team. However they each are in possession of things that Roy highly desires. Thus they use these desires to manipulate Roy into doing what they want him to do.
ReplyDeleteI think that, like many before me, the Judge can see Roy most clearly. The judge realizes from the beginning why Roy plays baseball, and what he wants to get out of it. The Judge see how Roy has fallen for Memo, and he exploits his affection by sending her to him as part of his (the Judge's) plan to throw the game. He knows that money and woman are all that really matter to Roy, and that to get the woman he wants, he needs what the Judge has to offer.
ReplyDeleteI think that Bump was the person that was most bamboozled by Roy's talent. He couldn't handle the fact that Roy was (a little bit) younger and better than him. Eventually this jealousy that he felt towards Roy ended up to be the death of him, literally.
There are a lot of characters who seem to have a good grip on who Roy really is, but also find him falling short of their expectations. Memo and Judge both expected him to follow through on losing the game based off of his desire for Memo, which he changed his mind about. Iris seemed to think that Roy could change, even though she saw his immaturity and asked him when he was going to grow up. Though Roy seems to me to be a very predictable protagonist, these other characters have trouble predicting his moves. Because of this, I think the only person who has a good idea of Roy's true self (with the exception of Sam, who probably knew Roy best but who wasn't in the book long enough to really tell) is the reader. It is easy for us, as readers, to detect patterns in Roy's behavior, thoughts, and triumphs or failures.
ReplyDeleteI think that Roy is the character who sees his own talents inflated the most. As his own ego so often gets in his way, he clearly has "bamboozled" image of himself and his ability to play baseball, even after his many failures
I believe that Iris knows Roy inside and out the best of all the other characters. While many characters like Memo and the Judge realize how to exploit Roy, Iris can see a different part of Roy that no one else sees. Iris is the only character to get close to Roy and truly believe he has the traits of a true hero. She believed that he would do the right thing in the end.
ReplyDeleteAs for who was the most bamboozled by Roy's talent, like may others have said I believe that Bump was the most bamboozled by Roy's talent. Bump was dumbfounded on how Roy just appeared out of nowhere and had so much success. This idea that Roy was such a natural at the game most likely drove bump crazy and played a part in Bump's death.
I agree with some of the earlier assessments that the character who sees him most clearly is Memo. Roy opens up the most to Memo in hopes that he can win her over by answering all of her nosy questions. Because of Roy's openness towards her, Memo is able to learn the most about him, and then use the information that she knows about his attitude and personality to her advantage. Memo also uses Roy's perpetual need to please her to manipulate him into doing things that he usually would not respect (ex. gambling with Gus, taking Judge's deal). It is truly unfortunate that Roy's efforts are completely wasted as Memo really never has any intentions of indulging him in return.
ReplyDeleteThe character who is most bamboozled by Roy's talent is Roy himself. Roy does not seem to understand the exact implications of being gifted with such amazing abilities, and he also does not seem to comprehend the fact that he cannot take his talent for granted. He offends the people who truly care for him and pays no heed to their warnings and advice, no matter how valuable it may be. He is completely blinded by his want to be the best, to succeed. Sadly, in the end of his pursuit of a title, not even his sacrifices of his self respect, dignity, and integrity can save his talent and intrinsic baseball ability.
I think the character that sees Roy the most clearly is Herman Youngberry. It is possible Youngberry realizes that Roy has supernatural powers working on his side after Vogelman faints. I believe this because Youngberry knows to divert his eyes and not look at Roy for the first two pitches of the final at bat. I think that Youngberry might have realized that Roy's "bleeding" eyes have power over pitchers.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Bobby that Iris is the character that is most bamboozled by Roy's magnificent talent. Iris' focus on Roy's talent results in her thinking that he is a hero. But in actuality Roy does not even like the fans, he only cares about money in hope that he will have a good life with Memo. Roy does become a hero on some level when he stops trying to throw the game to the bookies. He is transformed into a tragic hero in the end.