Character Analysis Of Squeaky And Gretchen In Raymond's Run

There is always that one person you know who tries their absolute heart out during a sport or extracurricular activity. In the story “Raymond’s Run” by Toni Bambara, both Squeaky and Gretchen want to win the race, but both don’t necessarily like each other either. Even though they are both strong runners, they face challenges along the way. The main character, Squeaky, is very determined about winning the race. The text says, “There is no track meet where I don’t win the first-place medal.” (Bambara, 23) This tells me that she is also very hard-working at the things she does, especially running. Squeaky is also a very responsible person. The text says, “All I have to do in life is mind my little brother.” (Bambara, 23) Her parents must know and trust her to have enough responsibility to watch over her brother. Squeaky is also very outspoken because she isn’t afraid to stand up for her brother. The text says, “You got to say anything to my brother, you got to say it to me.” (Bambara, 26)

Gretchen was somewhat fake because she didn’t really mean some of her actions that she did. “Gretchen smiles, but it’s not a smile, and I’m thinking girls never really smile at eachother because they don’t really know how.” (Bambara, 26) Gretchen was also sassy in a way. The text says, “Gretchen puts her hands on her hips, and is about to say something with her freckle-face self, but doesn’t.” (Bambara, 26) To me, it seemed like she she was trying to seem the way she did. Gretchen in my mind is also a show off. I think this because the text says, “... then I see Gretchen standing there at the starting line, kicking her legs out like a pro.” (Bambara, 29) Once the story starts to end, her personality changes a little bit. She becomes a little bit more kind than she was at the beginning. The text says, “...she nods to congratulate me and then she smiles.” (Bambara,