Hunters in the Snow

by Tobias Wolff

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Discussion Topic

The protagonist and antagonist in "Hunters in the Snow"

Summary:

The protagonist of "Hunters in the Snow" is Tub, a man struggling with his weight and self-esteem issues. The antagonist is Kenny, who bullies and mocks Tub throughout the story, leading to a climactic confrontation. Frank, another character, also plays a complex role, sometimes siding with Kenny, complicating the dynamics between the characters.

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Who is the protagonist in "Hunters in the Snow"?

Of the three men who dominate the narrative, Tub is the protagonist. When there are three characters in a story, there is often a phenomenon of triangulation, where two characters ally themselves against the third. That seems to be the case when the story opens as Kenny and Frank treat Tub cruelly by nearly hitting him with the truck after making him wait outside in the cold for an hour. Their mistreatment of him continues during the hunt as they mock him for his weight.

After Tub shoots Kenny in what seems to be a sort of pre-emptive self-defense, the triangulation seems to shift to Frank and Tub against Kenny. They don't respond with alacrity to get help for him. The relationship among the three men is extremely dysfunctional; their inhumanity towards each other precludes any bonds they might share.

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Who is the protagonist in "Hunters in the Snow"?

While the three main characters share the spotlight in "Hunters in the Snow," Tub is primarily our main character, and thus, our protagonist. The protagonist is the character with whom the reader most identifies and learns the most about his or her development.

We first meet Tub as he stands on the corner waiting for his friends to arrive. We see the most development of his character; for example, we know he has a weight problem of his own making which he blames on glands. We witness his abuse at the hands of his so-called friend Kenny. The reader feels sorry for Tub and possibly identifies with him. Later, we watch him grow from allowing himself to be a pushover to taking charge of his abusive friend Kenny. We see his mindset change as he develops a bond with Frank. Finally, the reader tends to forgive his ambivalent attitude towards Kenny's impending death. The ironic tragic situation is not Tub's fault.

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In "Hunters in the Snow," who is the protagonist?

In "Hunters in the Snow," Tub is at the center of the story, making him the protagonist. Tub is the first character readers encounter, and the narrator speaks from a third person limited perspective. What readers know of the men and their situation is revealed through the story's action and dialogue.

Though Tub is the protagonist, he is not necessarily a sympathetic character. All three of the main characters, Tub, Frank, and Kenny, are deeply flawed men, and it is not shocking when their allegiances shift. Inhumane behavior is a choice that all three men embrace. The overall theme of man's inhumanity to man applies to the story, though it would be reasonable to assume from the opening scene that Tub will be a character for whom readers will feel sympathy. But since Wolfe's story is complex rather than predictable, astute readers will find that Wolfe observes the human condition through the deplorable behavior of all three hunters.

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In "Hunters in the Snow," who is the protagonist?

Tub is the protagonist. He is the first character introduced, and the story is told from his perspective. He is not intended to be a hero character, but simply the one whose perceptions color the story; he accepts Kenny's abuse until the possibility of violence comes up, and then he defends himself from what he considered a personal threat. Tub is not very sympathetic, especially when he reveals that he deliberately overeats:

"...I make a big deal about only having an orange for breakfast and then scarf all the way to work. Oreos, Mars Bars, Twinkies. Sugar Babies. Snickers." Tub glanced at Frank and looked quickly away.
(Wolff, "Hunters in the Snow," classicshorts.com)

In the end, Tub bonds with Frank because of their shared secrets, and together they make an unconscious decision to let Kenny die for his abuse. This shows the callous nature of Tub's inner personality; he accepts Kenny's abuse as validation, but when he receives validation from Frank, he stops caring if Kenny lives or dies.

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