6) Discuss Jose. Who is he? What makes him a significant character? What happens to him that motivates his activism? What is Hal’s initial response to Jose?
Though only a minor character that is left out of the central burning conflict of the novel, Jose becomes a crucial contributor to the plot as well as a strong follower of positive accountability. Jose is one of the security guards who works for Avery Taft. Like Cully, Jose sits in an old trailer during the night and goes on rounds to ensure no trespassers set foot into the Banes Fields site. He befriends Cully as the two bond over a mutual hatred and disgust for Avert Taft.
Jose’s true significance to the novel becomes apparent only in the later stages of the book. It is when Jose “got a rash all over that arm” (Steinke 343) and “couldn't breathe” (343) after following Avery’s orders to dig something up. Taft’s orders led Jose to perform a task that forced him to come into contact with “black stuff in the dirt” (Steinke 343). The contaminants in Avery’s building site prompted Jose to suffer serious health impediments, such as burning rashes and flares in long suppressed asthma.
The event prompted Jose to look towards activism, which is where his significance as a character becomes crucial. Jose was harmed by Taft’s sketchy and unethical business actions, and the injuries were enough to surge Jose into a powerful whirlwind of activism. Jose told Friendswood Dispatch that, “He’d seen black tars and pools of green brackish oil near the construction-it had given him breathing problems” (Steinke 367). He then showed the public that Avery Taft dismissed such alarming dangers. Jose revealed Taft for the grimy and greedy business man that he is. He told the public that Taft thought such occurrences were “normal things at a building site” (Steinke 367). No longer could the schemes go on and Jose’s actions were enough to cease dangerous building that would lead residents to live in houses built on hazardous toxins. Jose’s activism saved the health of the town and stopped a disastrous catastrophe before it took its toll. Jose also proved that Lee was right, and he forced the EPA and the public to confront the truth and see the situation for what it truly is.
His exhibition of positive accountability became prominent in the midst of the struggle. In order to affirm the legitimacy of his claims and show the world the real Avery Taft, Jose had to admit to his part. Jose admitted that, “He’d been asked to hire a crew to bury a huge plastic box” (Steinke 367). Jose did not hide the fact that he buried a container of poisonous chemicals, and although at the time he was unaware of what the container was, he knew such a request was suspicious. Jose took responsibility for his part in the chaos, which reflects positive accountability. Jose also made sure that Taft and his industry was held accountable and made right their wrongs, which was another good exhibition of positive accountability. Jose was able to express his discontent in a calm way.
Though a key character, the response to Jose wasn’t always initially positive. When first hearing of Jose from Cully, Hal Holbrook didn’t give in a second glance nor acknowledge the importance of what he thought. When Cully told of Jose’s beliefs of the toxins, Hal Holbrook shrugged it off when he said, “There’s stuff like that all over town. There are oil fields just off I-45. There’s a refinery in Alvin. Been there for years. I don’t see the point in getting all worked up about it” (Steinke 343). Hal’s indifference and immediate nonchalance automatically degrade Jose’s claims to a bunch of nonsense. Hal’s first response to Jose stresses him to be insignificant and unimportant. Hal also belittles Jose’s injuries when he asks Cully, “Well, he’s breathing now, ain’t he?” (Steinke 343). Jose is hardly given the attention or concern that the situation demands, and he is regarded by Hal with such little significance. Hal clearly has no care or regards for Jose and what he does.
The following video captures the benefits of blowing the whistle, which is essentially what Jose did. Jose told the public information about Taft and his company dealings. The video shows that actions like Jose's should be embraced.
Works Cited
Steinke, Rene. Friendswood. New York: Riverhead Books, 2014. Print.
As always, your use of strong language, such as your description of Avery as a "grimy and greedy business man", was very engaging. I liked the point you made about Jose taking responsibility about his own part in the issue.
ReplyDeleteVictoria: you integrate quotes effectively in your writing and thoroughly help your readers understand the importance of Jose.
ReplyDeleteGood job!
--Prof. Young