Judd Mulvaney offers a different perspective on life than that of another child of his age. Judd has already come to terms with the inevitable end and what it will bring, however, this rational view on life is also the cause for much of Judd's uneasiness while referring to change. The author characterizes Judd as realistic with also a prominent trait of anxiety. The author, Joyce Carol Oates, illustrates Judd as an anxious pragmatist by using contradictions and imagery.
Oates uses contradictions to show the apprehensive personality of Judd while also revealing his practical side. The passage begins as Judd is analyzing his surroundings as he talks about the "Fast-flowing, clear water" and the "Sky the color of lead". He "hypnotizes" himself…show more content… As the author uses shifts and contradictions in tone and Judd's surroundings, she uses imagery in order to convey the characterization of Judd as well. Towards the end of the passage, Judd starts to relax as he sees his family and focuses on the perfection of them. As he focuses on this, the imagery returns as he is now engulfed in his father and brother and the "mud-colored Ford pickup". As the pickup truck and his family drives away, however, the imagery begins to withdraw and the reader began to be engulfed again in Judd's anxious thoughts as a substitute. As the imagery disappears, Judd's realistic side is prominent again for he returns to his discoveries of fate and what comes with it. The author uses imagery in order to help contradict his calmness pertaining to order and perfection. When that quintessential image disperses, Judd finds himself overwhelmed with the idea of imperfection, how nothing remains in a perfect state, and how "every heartbeat is past and gone" without much to do about it. When Judd is again in a calm state, the ideal picture returns as well as the authors use of imagery. The imagery within the excerpt comes and goes with Judd's state of tranquility and his state of
