Student Question
In "Raymond's Run," how does Squeaky view Gretchen after encountering her, Mary Louise, and Rosie on the street?
Quick answer:
Squeaky views Gretchen as a rival and competitor after their encounter on the street. The interaction is marked by verbal sparring, with Squeaky focusing her attention on Gretchen, whom she sees as the real challenger among the group. Squeaky confidently asserts her superiority in running, indicating that she considers Gretchen a serious contender in the upcoming May Day Race.
In order to determine how Squeaky views Gretchen after they meet on the street in Toni Cade Bambara’s short story “Raymond’s Run” one needs to look back into the text for evidence. By reading the sixth through ninth paragraphs the evidence emerges. Squeaky sees Gretchen as a rival and a competitor. The girls verbally spar back and forth, and include Raymond in their remarks. Mary Louise, who is standing next to Gretchen, asks Squeaky whether she will be running in the May Day Race this year. This is strictly a rhetorical question because the whole neighborhood knows that Squeaky’s identity is based on her running skills. Rosie teases Squeaky by telling her that she will not be the winner of this year’s race. But Squeaky focuses her attention on Gretchen.
I always win cause I’m the best,” I say straight at Gretchen who is, as far as I’m concerned, the only one talking in this ventrilo-quist-dummy routine.
From these events and the dialogue, the reader can imply that Squeaky sees Gretchen as a rival and competitor.
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