George's Summer

George Stoyonovich is the main character of the story "A Summer's Reading". He is an unemployed drop out, who is struggling throughout the story in order to change his ways and bring himself to improve his life. I found George to be an interesting character and the process he goes through to be fairly important.

George is a twenty year old guy who lives in a lousy New-York neighborhood.Being a drop out,he finds it very difficult to find a job. He usually spends his time reading cheap magazines or wandering about the streets. His mother died when he was very young, and his father does not support him much. His sister, Sophie, tries to be supportive and be there for him, when she is not too busy financing the family on her own.

George has a very problematic personality. He is lazy, immature and very impatient, becoming sick and tired of everything he does very quickly. In spite of his difficult nature, he brings himself to change by the end of the story, and starts to educate himself, thanks to his neighbor, Mr. Cattanzara. Mr. C is a very important figure in George’s life, being the only one who shows interest in him. Thanks to him, positive rumors are spread around the neighborhood, making George much more confidant, and that eventually brings him to change.

At the beginning of the story, I did not see George as a character I could appreciate. I have always despised lazy people who didn’t work hard enough to achieve their goals. However,I started to like George as the story developed and by the end of it I learned to understand and identify with him. Therefore, this character is very important to me, and the ending of the story, where George does bring himself to change,has left me with a smile of contentment.

Excellent analysis.
(100)
Daphna