Evan Hunter's On The Sidewalk Bleeding

540 Words3 Pages

In “On the Sidewalk Bleeding” by Evan Hunter uses symbolism and characterization to show that we shouldn’t be labeled we should be ourselves. The jacket in On the Sidewalk Bleeding symbolizes judgement towards Andy when he wears it. Andy gets stabbed right at the being and we figure out a lot more as the story goes on. “ If he had not been wearing the jacket it wouldn’t have been stabbed” (Hunter 7). He realizes he is just a another Royal to everyone no one cares who he really is. It was not just the people who stabbed him but the people who just walked past him. One of the people that saw him was a police. “ The cop picked up the jacket and turned it over in his hand “ A royal huh?” he said.” (Hunter 7). The policeman doesn’t care that …show more content…

As we can predict Andy can’t be to happy about being stabbed. “ He was filled with sadness that his life would be over at sixteen.” (Hunter 6). Andy lies on the side walking waiting and waiting for the moment his heart stops beating. No one will actually help him and there is nothing he could do himself because he's bleeding so bad and can’t physically move. I also found one other really good piece of information I think really represents Andy’s characterization. As he lies there he realizes thing could have different and every choice he makes impacts everything that could happen. “ And he wondered suddenly if the Guardians who has ambushed him and knifed him had ever once realized he was Andy?” (Hunter 6). He sees that no one really see him as Andy and no one cares what his really name is they just see him as a Royal. They ties into the the theme that people should not be labeled everyone should be able to be themselves because Andy is judged by everyone when he really just wants to be seen as the kind boy he really is. In addition to being judged he tries to get away for the label Royal cause he wants to be himself. “ But he squirmed and fought and twisted until one arm was free and then the other” (Hunter 7). Andy is trying to get away from the jacket at his last breathing moments. He wants to be known as Andy and only that. Characterization of Andy helps the