How Bobby does and does not respect
Owen Morehead
Respecting is always a problem in life. People’s instinct is just not to respect, most of us that is. If none of us respect others then life will be hard and full of problems. And Bobby in the Misfits by James Howe also has a problem showing respect early out in the book, but he learns how to respect others and their feelings later on in the book. Whether it’s caring or respecting, all the main characters in the Misfits have a problem expressing their real feelings. Bobby, Addie, Joe, and Skeezie call themselves “The Gang of Five.” They always get bullied and called names in a small school called Paintbrush Falls. But then the chance comes to stop the name calling with the student election. Will respecting be fixed in Paintbrush falls, or will the names keep on coming?
Bobby has a hard time showing his respect for other people early on in the Misfits. There are many examples in this book of how Bobby Goodspeed doesn't show respect. For example, Bobby made a third party without asking Ms. Wyman a teacher at Paintbrush Falls School about starting it. This shows that Bobby doesn't respect people’s thoughts and didn't think he needed to ask Ms. Wyman about starting the third party. Which was a big deal. (181-190) Another example of why Bobby doesn’t show respect early in the book would be that Bobby doesn’t respect his dad. Bobby doesn't want to end up like his dad, and he’s disrespectful to him and his thoughts. Bobby calls his dad “A low life character.”(59) This would show that Bobby doesn’t think his dad is a good role model, and Bobby doesn’t want to end up being lonely and drunk, because Bobby's dad used to be an alcoholic. “I remember more than once when my dad had a glass of scotch in one hand and a book in the other while he was reading to me.” (59) One other case of Bobby showing such little respect for adults would be that Bobby doesn't respect Mr. Kellerman. He doesn't take him seriously even though he is Bobby's boss. Bobby’s nickname for Kellerman is “Killer man”. That shows that Bobby doesn't really understand or trust Mr. Kellerman. He also says “You have to hand it to the guy; he has style, even if he has the personality of a doorstop.” Or “I know I have to work, but why this job.” Most importantly Bobby doesn't show respect to himself. He doesn't believe in himself, and he doesn't trust in himself. Bobby calls himself “fat”, and “no one will ever like him.”(80) This shows that Bobby still doesn't trust himself, and doesn't think he is a good person.
Throughout the story Bobby starts to gain respect for people. For example, Bobby respects Brittney and her party for winning the election and he doesn’t get angry at her. He respects the ability of Brittney, even though he wanted to win the election, but he still feels good about his no name party and what they achieved.(260) Bobby even said “ It isn’t always about winning the election... Sometimes it’s about winning something much bigger.”(260). That shows that Bobby is learning to respect people like Brittney for who they are and if they win something he wanted to win he still respects them winning because Bobby was okay with losing. Another way of Bobby respecting would be that while Bobby was giving his big speech for the election, he went out of the way and mentioned Addie and the rest of his no name party, and how they have been a big help to the group, and have been his friends ever since he was little. They have helped him through a lot and no matter what any of them do; he respects them for who they are. Bobby even says “What I want to say is that Addie has been my friend my whole life, and Skeezie and Joe for a long time...” (252) and “I think they are winners... I know they are winners.” (252) That shows that Bobby has the courage to mention his best friends even during a big speech. Bobby is learning to show that he actually respects people like his friends, and is expressing his feelings out loud.
In James Howe’s the Misfits, Howe was able to show the importance of Bobby changing throughout the story in learning how to respect. I think I can relate to Bobby because Bobby might not be able to take people seriously like Mr. Kellerman, but when they start to become better friends Bobby starts to understand and respect people for who they are. I would say that's the same as me. Some people I don't know that well, I don't respect as much because I'm not that good of a friend with them. Although when I get to know them better, I start to understand and respect them.
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