'Jasper Jones has a terrible reputation in Corrigan. He's a thief, a liar, a thug, a truant. He is lazy and unreliable. He is wild and orphan, or almost. His mother is dead and his father is worthless. This is the rotten model that parents hold up as a warning. This is a quote from the first chapter of the novel Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey, describing a character whose presence persists throughout the novel, even though he is not physically there. This quote is from Charlie Bucktin, the protagonist, who is filled with the prejudices that his corrupt city has fed him. This novel is set in 1960s Australia, which explains this racist and stereotypical thinking of indigenous people while also being a gothic bildungsroman that tackles dark and taboo subjects with an abundance of suspense and mystery. It follows Charlie, Jasper Jones and Eliza Wishart on a mission to discover why Laura Wishart was found dead hanging from a tree, which turns into a never-ending spiral of learning truths and secrets from people who they should or should not trust. This novel explores the relevance of the quote "Life is about figuring out who that bad guy is" through the characterization of Pete Wishart, Ruth Bucktin, and "Mad" Jack Lionel with their dialogue, actions, and intertwining in the plot. Say no. to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay Pete Wishart's presence in the novel and his conflicting identities are linked to the quote "Life is about figuring out who the bad guy is." 'He is the Shire President, so seen by the town as a caring person and "can do no wrong" while behind closed doors he is an abusive alcoholic, which makes him no better than the criminals which he locks up. This is why this antagonist works well with the quote "Life is about figuring out who that bad guy is", because he is supposed to be what the town considers him to be, a caring person who does good to people, but he is not. and repeatedly committing offenses and exploiting his power. An example of this is when Jasper Jones returns from the police station beaten and bruised, Charlie discovers that the president "knew the police were beating Jasper" and Jasper counts down with "Knew?" He doesn’t know it, he was putting the boot in the biggest one of all.” This indicates that Pete Wishart condones violence against criminal suspects and native people and that he himself, as county chairman, participates in these actions that he is supposed to oppose. Another example of Pete condoning violence is when he commits this in his own home as well as sexual abuse. Eliza Wishart (her youngest child) tells Charlie about a suicide letter from Laura Wishart (her eldest), she relates that their father would physically, emotionally and sexually abuse Laura and had done so since she was a child. This is a major revelation for other characters and readers because it destroys the way Pete Wishart is portrayed in Corrigan's town and fuels even more hatred and anger among readers. This antagonist not only abuses and tries not to associate with people of color but also with his own family. He is a fantastic example of the quote "Life is about finding out who the bad guy is" since he is the complete opposite of what he is supposed to stand for, the people who look up to him are fools, and characters like Charlie Bucktin, a white character who starts out as innocent and naive, must understandthat. Ruth Bucktin's actions and dialogue in the novel and her break with convention relate to the quote "Life is about finding out who the bad guy is." She is the mother of Charlie Bucktin, but is shown to be an angry and materialistic person who does not convey many traits that a mother or parent in general usually possesses. We see an antagonist who tries to raise a child and be a good wife but because of her negative attitudes, morals and beliefs, it backfires on her. She is a selfish character who wants to control, protect and have what she thinks she deserves. An example of this is when Ruth Bucktin screams and screams at Charlie, slapping him and grabbing him by the collar while asking him "Where have you been?" After the argument, she yells at him to go to his room and Charlie tries to refuse to say how "but there are wasps in there" but she tells him "I don't care!". Now, Charlie left when he wasn't supposed to, but that doesn't justify Ruth's actions which may range from physical and verbal abuse to complete disregard and insensitivity to fears and her son's anxieties. This suggests that when Ruth Bucktin is angry and worried, she does not plan what she does, she only cares about the truth and punishment. This is probably why Charlie has such a dislike for her, as it is shown in several chapters that his mother gets a bit angry. Throughout the novel it is hinted that Ruth Bucktin is cheating on her husband and in chapter 6 it is confirmed that she is when Charlie finds her "grappling and grabbing" another man in a car. She sobs, telling Charlie that he "don't understand" and that "your father doesn't love me." He never did. This highlights that Ruth will do things for her own benefit because she believes she deserves it even though it could potentially hurt others and she doesn't deserve it. Wesley probably loved Ruth, but over time, with her yelling and criticism, his feelings faded in more provocative ways, the only reason they are still together is possibly because of Charlie. Ruth Bucktin is a good example of a character who breaks conventions and transforms into an antagonist. It shows that even parents can harm their children and that one must examine their beliefs, attitudes and morals before entering into a relationship and having children. With the interweaving of "Mad" Jack Lionel into the plot and his presence, it relates to the quote "Life is about finding out who the bad guy is". He is feared by the town at the thought that he killed a young woman when he is just a sad and lonely man, accused and cast aside. At the beginning of the novel he is introduced as the antagonist, but by the end we see him as a fully 3D character whose story has finally been told and not just as a lingering name with negative connotations. Throughout the novel, proving your courage to Corrigan's children and teenagers involves "stealing something from 'Mad' Jack Lionel's property." Since everyone thinks he killed a young woman, it is fun for the children to steal various things from his garden, it makes them seem brave and worthy of the "popular kids" era, especially if they steal a peach. his tree; you're basically royalty if you do. This shows that these children have the same idea of ​​"Mad" Jack Lionel as their parents, that he is a killer and that he should be feared, but no one tries to find out if he actually killed the women. These are just rumors, since the town thinks that Jack killed this young woman because he didn't like her marrying his son when in fact over time he warmed up the ?.