Sweet or sour, seeds or not, tangerines are a delicious fruit, and they play an important role in the book Tangerine. Paul and Erik are seemingly exact opposites, whatever Paul does good Erik tries to kill him for it. Erik and his, “Football Dream,” take over his life when he is not mean, or with his buddy Arthur Bauer. Arthur is a backup kickoff kind of guy, and is really trash and has no meaning to anybody else. Paul only tries to do good to the world, his family, and his friend, Joey who aldo lives in Tangerine county with Paul. Over the burnt trees of tangerines is where people are building houses, and not having a care in the world about it.
Although Paul, when he was younger Erik put spray paint in his eyes, and he cannot see well, he can see things that others cannot. When he was walking with Joey, he was told that Mr. Donnelly's house has been struck by lightning 10 times! Joey thought it was just a crazy thing with his yard, but Paul knew what was really going on. The house used to be the tallest point on the grove, and the lightning always struck there. Then when the houses were leveled out the lightning still “knew”…show more content… The Oak tree is an important symbol in the book, this is because that oak can represent strong, and living on. They live for hundreds of years, and are a strong tree, like Mike Costello. The committee planted an oak and a memorial in his memory Joey and his family are still strong in his place, and even that strong oak can resemble them. The tangerines can also represent Paul’s life, because they can be sweet, sour, meaning up and down. I think that when the author can connect the fruit, or anything non-living to a life, then they did a very good job. It is also good when they can do this and in a show but not tell from, this is when you know the idea was a strong and well thought
