Character Analysis Of James From The Story 'Your Move'

“You don’t know what you have until it’s gone.” ~ Joni Mitchell

James from the story “Your Move” starts off taking Isaac for granted and prioritizing the gang more than his own brother. After his brother is hurt, James realizes the importance of his brother and how Isaac looks up to him. This all leads me to believe that James came from prioritizing the gang, to prioritizing his brother Isaac because he didn’t know how important his family was until he was gone.

James, from the story “Your Move”, tries to fit in with the K-Bones gang. His little brother Isaac disapproves of this idea. This tells me that even after some disagreement, James prioritizes the K-Bones gang much more than his brother. For example, in one scene the gang

Isaac nodding is the fact that Isaac just copies his brother, similar to how Isaac copies his James’ checkers move. The first part of the quote is the leader of the K-Bones gang asking James if he knows the sign that the gang is going to vandalize. Since James just wants to fit in, he agrees. After that, Isaac wants to be like his brother, so he does the same thing. This supports my claim because not only does it show how James wants to fit in with the gang, but it shows how Isaac looks up to James by copying what James does as well as James’ messed up priorities, which show how much Isaac really takes Isaac for

Their connection is strong enough that Isaac looks up to James, but James takes Isaac for granted and thinks being in the K-Bones gang is more important. Even though James resists the thought a little, James prioritizes the gang before his brother. This is shown in the quote:

“We listen for the gasp of the outside door at the bottom of the stairs, and when we hear it, Isaac says: “He’s gone.” He pushes the checkerboard toward me. “Your move, James.” He watches, then makes the exact same move I make. I smile. “You’re so weird, Isaac,” I say.

But it’s OK. He’s only six. And I’m his brother.” “

This quote supports my claim because it shows how James has learned and rejected the offer of the K-Bones gang, just wanting to play with his brother and not get his brother hurt. This symbolizes how James cares very much for Isaac. James accepts the fact that Isaac is so drawn to James. But James loves him because Isaac is his brother. In the end, all these quotes prove my claim, James prioritizes the gang more than his brother, Isaac looks up to James, and then James realizes he took Isaac for