On the Sidewalk Bleeding Analysis

Character Analysis Essay Being a part of a gang meant to have pride, at least that is what Andy presumes. Andy, a member of the Royals, a notorious street gang, has been stabbed in an alley by a rival gang, the Guardians. Despite this act in Evan Hunter’s “On the Sidewalk, Bleeding”, Andy proves he is not frightened at the thought of death. Instead is only filled with an overwhelming sadness that his life is coming to a short end.

Throughout the novel, Andy shows himself as a hopeless, regretful, loving and depressed person through his acts, making him ultimately a complex individual.

In the introductory paragraphs, Andy portrays himself as hopeless when he lay helplessly in the alley. He lay on the pavement, trying to scream for help as he gasps for air, but could not. The author then states: “He lay bleeding and wishing he could cry for help, but there was no voice in his throat” (Hunter 99).

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The quote proves that Andy is hopeless because he could not even seem to do something as simple as cry for help. It also states that he lay bleeding; if he were not hopeless he would have stood up if he could, but he did not. In another quote, it states clearly that he lay in pain waiting eagerly for someone to aid him.

This can be seen in this quote, “He lay silent in his pain, waiting, waiting for someone to find him” (Hunter 99). He knows he could not do anything but wait and hope for someone to find him.

He lay in agonising pain while doing so. In brief, Andy proves through his acts in the introductory paragraphs that he is hopeless. His hopelessness in this situation showed a more complex personality towards Andy. Secondly, Andy appears as a regretful person through his thoughts. Andy is regretful of the jacket he wears the day of the stabbing. “The jacket was a stupid meaningless thing that was robbing him of his life” (Hunter 103).

Andy showed himself as a regretful person by admitting to the fact that he should not wear the jacket and that it is “robbing” him of his life. In addition, Andy regrets even joining the gang. In this case, “There had been some sort of pride knowing he was a Royal. Now there was no pride at all” (Hunter 102). He realizes that the gang has brought no sort of success whatsoever to his life. He regrets ever joining the Royals. To conclude, Andy realizes that there was no benefit in the decisions he is making and has regrets for them too. Regretting some of the decisions he has made, made Andy a complex person.

Thirdly, Andy proves he is loving through his feelings towards Laura. Andy begins to speak to himself as if he were really speaking to Laura. He states: “I love you, Laura” (Hunter 101). During his last moments all he thinks about is the fact of him leaving Laura and never getting to say his final good-byes. Furthermore, he starts to wonder if he would ever get a glimpse of her again. On this occasion, “It was then that he wondered if he would ever kiss Laura again” (Hunter 100). The symbol of wanting to kiss Laura is a way of expressing his affection towards her.

By Andy wanting to kiss Laura means that he probably wants to see her again and talk to her. As a result, Andy proves he is loving when all he wants and thinks of doing before dying is to see Laura one last time and kiss her. Andy shows he is a complex human through all of the emotions running through his mind having to do with his affectionate and loving relationship with Laura. Lastly, Andy is a depressed person when he realizes death is nearby. Andy feels as if he is too young to die. To demonstrate his thoughts, “He was only filled with an overwhelming sadness that his life would be over at sixteen” (Hunter 103).

This quote exemplifies the fact that Andy is depressed by stating that he was filled with a mournful feeling once realizing his life would be over soon. Equally important, Andy suddenly becomes distressed when he realizes he is probably going to die. Therefore, “He was going to die now, and the knowledge made him suddenly sad” (Hunter 103). Just thinking about death makes Andy unhappy. The point that makes Andy very sorrow is that he does not get to live his life to his full potential which he proves when he clearly states that his life would be over at sixteen.

This is way too young to die according to Andy. In summary, Andy shows he is depressed when he takes on the fact that his life will be over soon. His mood and feelings lead him into a complex cycle due to his depression. Through Andy’s acts, he reveals himself as hopeless, regretful, loving and depressed; making him fundamentally a complex person. Andy’s hopelessness to live shows as he lay in the alley bleeding. He also regrets some of the decisions he has made which led him into this situation. Andy shows his loving side while he only thinks about Laura as he lay in the alley with his final thoughts.

He remains depressed throughout his time in the alley wondering if his life will come to a short end. His four traits show a more complex personality towards Andy. Andy is complex, no doubt, but is it really himself which is so complex or the situation itself? Many people would agree that it is Andy himself who is complex, but others seem to have different opinions. They feel as if the situation itself has many complications which led Andy into a complex mindset. Although the scenario might be the cause of Andy’s complicated feelings. All in all, Andy is the one himself who is complex.