Book Review-The Pigman-Paul Zindel

1. physical description of the character
I chose to describe John because he was a character that "stuck out" to me in the book. When I think of John, I picture him as the kid in school who gets in trouble just because he knows he will get attetion, and it doesn't matter from who. He is wearing that ragedy, shirt that is stretched out around the collar and it doesn't look like its even been washed; his pants are the same way. He doesn't care about school or succeeding in anything because he has never been taugh that success is a good thing.
2. personality of character
John's personality is negative and lackidazical. He is at school because, not only, does it get him away from his horrible home life, but at school he can test all of his schemes on the innocent students. Most boys look up to the father as a role model, but John can't because all his father spends most of his time at home-drunk. His mother is so niave and is so concerned with having a spotless house and a "happy" son. When John fails to impress and please his parents, he resorts to believing that he really is a problem child. He sees no reason or chance to change. He is extremely selfish because he doesn't think about his actions and how they will affect others.
3. motivation of character
As far as John's motivation goes, I think he is the way he is because of his parents. His parents give him no recognition or support and there is absolutly no communication between the three of them. John has no role models so he doesn't know how to act and he doesn't know the difference between right and wrong. Without recognition from his parents, John has nothing to strive for. Recognition makes people strive to do better and to be a better person.
4. conflicts the character faces, how that character deals with the conflicts and the outcomes of conflicts
John faces not fitting in at school. He pretty much only gets along with Lorraine. He has no friends other than a girl. The character faces the pressures of fitting in and not receiving any recognition from his parents. He deals with his problems by pestering other people and by getting in trouble. For example he lit firecrackers in the school bathroom and got away with it. As John gets older, he starts drinking and smoking just to make his parents mad. He blames the problems he has and the problems his parents have on his parents even though he has never directly confronted his parents about the situation.
5. changes the character undergoes during the course of the novel.
When John and Lorriane meet the Pigman they use him to play pranks. Soon after, they both start to feel guilty for causing the old man pain. Both characters then start to trust and rely on the Pigman. John because less selfish because he starts to care for the Pigman and starts doing things for him without wondering what he will get from it.
6. personal connections (or a lack of) you made with the character
I did not make a personal connection with John because I don't think I'm the kind of person to cause another person problems. I value the relationship I have with my parents and other people and I would do whatever it takes to make sure I have a good relationship with the people I care about.
7. your opinion of the character and his/her/its effectiveness in the novel.
There would be no book without John. This book is about setting your problems and desires aside and caring for another person. John had to take the time to change himself and to do things for another person without expecting anything in return. The Pigman changed John and Lorriane's life and John and Lorriane changed the Pigman's.