The contender door Robert Lipsyte

Summary
Chapter 1 The novel begins as Alfred, the protagonist, waits for his best friend James, with whom he has planned to go to the movies. James does not show up, and Alfred goes looking for him, eventually finding him in the company of three neighborhood hoodlums, Major, Sonny, and Hollis. James and the other three bemoan their lack of money, and they contemplate robbing Epsteins' grocery store—the place where Alfred works. Alfred tries to stop them because he knows that on Fridays, the Epsteins leave all the money in the cash register in observance of the Sabbath. James and the hoodlums try to get Alfred to go with them, but Alfred refuses. Alfred bumps into Henry, a nice man from the neighborhood who walks with a limp. Henry explains that he has been working at Donatelli's gym, where famous boxers train. Henry suggests that Alfred come up to the gym. In the middle of the conversation Alfred sees a police car and remembers that the Epsteins just recently installed a new alarm in their store. He rushes out to try and warn James but is too late. Someone in the crowd says that the police apprehended one of the potential robbers. Alfred goes looking for James in their old hideaway in Central Park, hoping that he has escaped from the police and is waiting there. He remembers when they were ten years old at a time when he and James sat in their special cave hideaway when Alfred's father left home. They hid in the cave again when Alfred's mother died of pneumonia. He remembers how he and James always used to be partners and is fearful of the prospect of James's potential arrest. On the way home, Alfred bumps into Major and the other two hoodlums, who tell him James was caught by the police, and the three proceed to beat Alfred up. Chapter 2 The next morning Alfred lies to his Aunt Pearl about what happened to him. She tells Alfred that Henry carried him home the previous night. Later Alfred and Aunt Pearl talk about James, and Alfred tells her that he knew about the plan but tried to dissuade James. Alfred leaves the apartment to take a walk and someone tells him that Major and the others are looking for him. Alfred stops at Donatelli's Gym and finally goes up, ascending the three flights of stairs to the gym. Once in the gym, he sees Mr. Donatelli and tells him he is there to learn to be a fighter.
Chapter 3 Mr. Donatelli measures and weighs Alfred and then asks him what he hopes to accomplish. Donatelli asks him if he is afraid and says that a "man must have some fear … and learn to control it, to make it work for him." Donatelli explains the difference between fighting a man in the street and fighting a man in the ring, and then he shows Alfred the different punching bags and explains which fighting techniques they help develop. Donatelli gives Alfred a rigorous training schedule: waking up at 5:30 for a run; eating a breakfast of eggs, toast, and tea; doing sit-ups, push-ups and other exercises after work; eating a good dinner; and going to bed by 9:00 pm. Donatelli warns Alfred that even after much hard work, he still may not become a fighter. Then Donatelli asks Alfred how long he stayed in school, and Alfred reveals that he dropped out after the eleventh grade. Donatelli asks why he will not quit boxing in the same way. Alfred ponders the question, then responds by saying that he wants to be a champion. Donatelli tells him that it is the process of becoming a champion that makes a man special: "Everybody wants to be a champion. That's not enough. You have to start by wanting to be a contender, the man coming up…. " Donatelli tells Alfred that he will always be there in the gym, and what happens next is up to Alfred. Analysis The first few chapters illustrate many aspects of Alfred's life without revealing exactly what is going on. We learn that Alfred's best friend is being led astray by bad friends and crime; we learn that Alfred is being bullied and is afraid of James's new friends; we learn that Alfred misses the days when he and James used to face problems together. In place of his missing friend, Alfred feels very alone and develops the desire to improve himself and be someone special. Alfred's visit to the gym in chapter 3 is a result of all of these influences, and it seems to provide an answer to many of Alfred's problems. At the gym he can train and be safe from Major and the others. He can attempt to improve himself and garner the kind of support he no longer receives from James and the kind of guidance that has been scarce since the departure of his father and death of his mother. Lipsyte indicates why the gym, as dark and foreboding as it may be, is attractive to Alfred, and why the hard work that accompanies training is also helpful. Boxing is set up as a metaphor for Alfred's other problems. Donatelli tells him that even if he works harder than he has ever worked before and sticks to the schedule, he probably will not become a champion boxer. The struggle to become a renowned boxer is much like the other struggles in Alfred's life—like his struggle for an education; for a good job; to avoid the temptations of gangs, crimes and drugs and most importantly; to become someone. Learning to be a boxer, or at least a contender, is representative of the larger struggles that Alfred has and will confront throughout the rest of the novel. At the end of chapter 3, Lipsyte has successfully piqued the reader's interest. It is unclear whether Alfred will return to the gym or will stick to the arduous training schedule set forth by Mr. Donatelli. It is unclear how strong Alfred's desire and willpower are and how much they actually motivate his actions. In many ways it is still unclear exactly what prompted Alfred to go to the gym. Perhaps it was the threat of being beaten up by Major, the lack of anything else to do, or perhaps it was Henry's suggestion that he check out the gym. Or, perhaps it is something larger that involves Alfred's goals and desires for changing his station in life. Chapter 4 The next morning on the way to church, Alfred passes a nationalist rally where people are getting riled up over the issue of black rights. The speaker tries to get Alfred involved, and when Alfred keeps going someone calls him a "[h]appy little darky." During the sermon at church, he notices that Major and Hollis are standing in the doorway of the church. By the time Alfred leaves, Major and Hollis are gone. After church they ride the bus out to Jamaica, to Alfred's aunt and uncle, Dorothy and Wilson's house. During dinner, Wilson asks Alfred if there is much opportunity for advancement at the store, saying that the world is "opening up for colored people." Wilson continues to question him about education and trades, and Alfred tunes it out. Alfred's cousin, Jeff, is in college and is always winning prizes. Compared to Jeff, he had not accomplished much. That night Alfred thinks of what it means to advance and thinks of Mr. Donatelli and trying to become a contender. Chapter 5 The next morning Alfred wakes up early to run in the park. He is stopped by two cops who want to know what he is doing, and he explains he is training to be a boxer. The cops eventually let him go but not before making fun of him. When he gets home, Pearl wants to know where he was. Despite her pressing, he only tells her that he took a walk. At work Mr. Epstein asks about James and whether Alfred knew James was going to try and break into the store. Epstein presses Alfred for information about the identity of the other boys who broke into the store, but Alfred does not say anything. The Epsteins treat Alfred suspiciously, and he is no longer allowed to do errands such as taking money to the bank for deposit. As he is sweeping he sees the alarm wires, and it occurs to him that he could yank them out and come back next Friday to rob the store, though not entertaining the thought for long. Before Alfred leaves work, Henry comes by and reminds him to go to the gym. Chapter 6 Alfred returns to the gym. It is full of people boxing each other and punching bags. He notices a sign on the wall that says it costs $2 for amateurs, but Dr. Corey, the dentist from downstairs who fits all the fighters with mouth guards, tells him that paying is not important. Dr. Corey starts Alfred on some sit-ups, and some boys in the gym show him how to do them right—painfully slowly, all the way up and back down. Alfred does push-ups too. One of the fighters demands that Bud, Mr. Donatelli's assistant, tape his hands. Bud tells the boxer to do it himself, and the two launch into a nasty verbal confrontation with the boxer screaming at Bud, telling him that Bud must do whatever he says. Eventually, the boxer slugs at Bud, and Bud effortlessly blocks the punch and delivers one of his own. After the confrontation, Bud introduces himself to Alfred and says that Mr. Donatelli has a ticket for Alfred to see a real fight.
Analysis These three chapters demonstrate that Alfred really does not have a niche in his life. Instead of simply telling the reader that Alfred's life is difficult, Lipsyte shows us the measure and extent of Alfred's struggle. On the way to church, black nationalists yell at Alfred because he is not joining their rally and is going inside a "white" church. Once inside the church, in a place where one should feel safe, he sees Major and Hollis. Then Alfred goes to his relatives' house in Queens, and his uncle interrogates him over his job choice and whether or not he is proceeding down a path that will yield much opportunity for the future. Even spending a Sunday dinner with family, Alfred feels as if he is not good enough, especially when compared with his cousin Jeff. In the park, Alfred is questioned and teased by police officers as he tries to run. At work, his boss questions him about his involvement in the attempted robbery that took place the Friday before. Even though he was not crazy about his job before, at least he felt as if he could belong there. Now, the bosses watch him carefully and do not entrust him with anything important or valuable. When Alfred goes to the gym, some of the other boxers tease him about wearing his street clothes and about not knowing how to exercise or do sit-ups correctly. It seems that no matter where Alfred goes, someone is always giving him a hard time, cutting him down, and insisting that he does not belong. Alfred even feels that he cannot be honest with his aunt after he returns from running in the park. Her barrage of questions indicates that she is slightly suspicious of Alfred as well and wants to make sure he has not gotten himself into trouble, especially now that his best friend is in jail. These chapters show us why Alfred is intent on becoming something or someone. They illustrate the many reasons why Alfred feels like he is nothing special. Feeling as if he has nothing at all, Alfred turns toward the gym and Mr. Donatelli. Lipsyte sets this up as a critical juncture—Alfred is feeling like a failure, and what he chooses to do now is perhaps the single most important decision in his life. He could, as his best friend James does, succumb to the feeling of unimportance and failure and get involved in crime, or he could try even harder to make something of himself. We may sense that the opportunity to train at Donatelli's gym is Alfred's real chance to find something at which he excels. Chapter 7 Alfred and Henry go to the Madison Square Garden to see a fight. One of Mr. Donatelli's most promising boxers, Willie Streeter, is fighting an important match. Alfred keeps expecting something to go wrong—for the people at the gates not to let him in, or for the tickets Mr. Donatelli left for them not to be at will-call—but to his surprise they get into the stadium smoothly. Another one of Donatelli's boxers, Jelly Belly, joins them, and they talk about Willie Streeter, speculating about his chances at being the next champion. Streeter's fight is last, and as they watch the ones prior, Alfred finds himself thinking about when he and James pretended they were boxers as youths, giving each other tough boxer names. Willie Streeter's fight begins. During a bout of punches Streeter gets cut right above the eye. Jelly predicts trouble, and they watch as Streeter's opponent lands punch after punch on Streeter's cut eye. Mr. Donatelli stops the fight, and Streeter's opponent wins by TKO. They all go into the locker room where Jelly talks to Spoon, one of Donatelli's assistants. Spoon tells them that Streeter is not taking the TKO well at all and is angry with Donatelli. Streeter says that he would have won the fight, and Donatelli tells him that the risk of serious injury it was not worth it. Streeter threatens to get a new manager. Bud jumps in and tells Streeter that he better appreciate that he has a manager willing to save his hide. Later, Jelly Belly says that Streeter cannot go all the way now, because he "showed some dog." Spoon agrees and explains that all Willie could concentrate on was his hurt eye and that he left himself open to get hurt elsewhere, which is why Donatelli stopped the fight. On the way home, Spoon explains that he quit fighting because he was getting hurt too often. Spoon says that Donatelli encouraged him to quit and go to school and that now Donatelli is the best friend he has. They drop Alfred off, and Alfred thanks Henry for bringing him home the night he was beat up. As he climbs the steps to his apartment, Alfred sees Hollis and Major waiting for him. Chapter 8 Hollis and Major tell James that this Friday night they are going to try and rob the Epsteins' store again and that James is going to help them by disarming the alarm system. Alfred refuses, and Major pulls out a knife and threatens him. Alfred keeps saying no, and Major gets angry, saying he will wait a few days for Alfred's decision. Alfred, still refusing, goes inside. Chapter 9 Alfred gets up and runs in the park for over an hour. Aunt Pearl questions him about where he has been, and he tells her he was running. Finally, he tells her he is training to be a boxer and that he was at Madison Square Garden the night before watching a fight. Aunt Pearl asks him if he is going to quit his job, and he assures her he will not—at least not yet. She says she is not crazy about the idea, but Alfred tries to persuade her that Donatelli is a great trainer. Aunt Pearl says that they will talk to the Reverend about it and tells Alfred that she is happy he is so excited, she just wishes "it was something else." Analysis Lipsyte defines what it means to be a real contender through the scene with Willie Streeter. Streeter is lauded to be the next champion and is Mr. Donatelli's most hopeful boxer. However, Streeter does more than lose the single fight—he also proves that he does not have what it takes to be a champion. He got hurt, and then he got scared and opened himself up to greater injury and defeat. His argument with Mr. Donatelli after the fight reveals that he does not have what it takes inside either. On the other hand, Mr. Donatelli is portrayed as a hero. Not only does he intentionally call off the fight and take a loss for his boxer, but he has only Streeter's well being in mind. Spoon's story about Donatelli's suggestion to finish go to school instead of pursuing a boxing career shows that Donatelli is not just interested in the sport, but in how to make his fighters into winners inside and outside the ring. Loyalty is an important theme throughout these chapters. Donatelli already displays loyalty toward Alfred—he has secured a ticket to the fight for Alfred, knowing that Alfred has probably never been to Madison Square Garden nor has ever seen a real boxing match in person. Donatelli also makes sure that Alfred's transportation to and from the fight is secure.. Donatelli's decision to stop the fight is a gesture of loyalty toward Streeter, and Streeter does not reciprocate as he gets angry and threatens to find a new trainer. It is clear that Donatelli emphasizes trust in building a boxer, especially trust in the relationship between boxer and trainer. When Major and Hollis wait for Alfred after the fight, Alfred is able to stand up to them with relative ease. Major even pulls out a knife, but still Alfred does not falter. Alfred refuses unyieldingly to help them attempt their robbery on the Epsteins. Instead of actually using the knife or beating up Alfred again, Major and Hollis get frustrated and eventually leave, saying that Alfred has a few days to decide. Even though they could injure him, especially with a knife, they decide not to fight. We wonder what makes them decide this time that they will not hurt Alfred. What gives Alfred an upper hand in the confrontation that he has never previously had? It is with little fanfare that Alfred walks away—he does not celebrate inside or meditate on what happened during the confrontation. Simply, he remains stoic. He does not express fear, doubt, or the chance that his opinion will waver in the slightest. Perhaps it is a simple, yet for Alfred unfamiliar, display of self confidence that gives Major and Hollis the impression that they are not going to win in that situation.
Chapter 10 The first week is "all pain." The second week of training is even harder, and Alfred falls asleep right after dinner. After a Sunday church service Aunt Pearl takes Alfred to Reverend Price, and the Reverend tells her that Alfred will most likely "grow tired of this meaningless pursuit." Halfway through the third week, the pain begins to subside, and Alfred's body begins to adjust to the rigorous training. Alfred begins to wake in the morning without an alarm, enjoying his run though wishing he had someone—particularly James—with whom to run. One afternoon at work business is slow, and Alfred practices boxing moves in the storage room. Mr. Epstein walks in and gives Alfred a pointer, and Alfred realizes that Mr. Epstein is "Lightning Lou Epp," an old boxer that Bud and some of the others talked about. Epstein tells Alfred to give it up and says that these days one cannot make a living being a boxer anymore—that in effect, the sport has been ruined. He attributes the sport's demise to television and to the fact that there are too many crooked boxers and managers. Later that summer, Aunt Pearl goes to vacation at a summerhouse, and her daughters stay with Dorothy and Wilson in Queens. Coming home from the gym one night, Alfred runs into Major. Major apologizes for the "misunderstand" they had earlier, and he tells Alfred to come to the clubhouse sometime, mentioning that James still hangs out there. Alfred begins to get impatient with his training—after six weeks of brutally hard work he has punched only a bag and at his own face in the mirror. He gets discouraged, especially watching some of the other fighters preparing for bouts and some even preparing to box professionally. One day Major comes into the gym to invite Alfred to a party that James will be attending. Later Donatelli asks Alfred if something is wrong. Alfred says no, and Donatelli tells him he must work harder. Alfred leaves and decides to stop at the clubhouse. Chapter 11 Major offers Alfred a drink, but Alfred refuses. Major's girlfriend introduces Alfred to her cousin, Arlene. Major tries again to get Alfred to take a drink, and finally Alfred agrees when Major gives him half an orange soaked in vodka. Alfred asks about James, and they tell him James will come later. A marijuana joint gets passed around the room, and Arlene convinces Alfred to take a drag. Alfred drinks and smokes until he is barely able to walk. He goes out into the alley for some fresh air then goes back down to the clubhouse where the party has started again. James arrives, looking sick. He calls Alfred a fool for forgetting about the alarm. Hollis shows James a packet of white powder. Alfred tries to get James to stop, but James ignores him. Chapter 12 Alfred sleeps in past his alarm, waking only to answer the phone. Aunt Pearl gives him a message to relay to Dorothy, but Alfred forgets. He sleeps through an entire day and night, and then Major calls him, telling Alfred that he has a car and that they are all going out to Coney Island. Major picks Alfred up, and when they arrive at Coney Island they send some of the boys to get food. Only Alfred and Major are in the car when police officers start checking licenses and registrations. They jump out of the car and run, and Alfred realizes that Major stole the car. Away from the police, Alfred buys a load of food and a few minutes after eating it throws it up. He goes to see a movie and eventually gets back to Harlem. Work drags and Alfred avoids everyone—Henry, the clubhouse, and the gym. A few days later, he decides to empty his locker. He apologizes to Mr. Donatelli for quitting and asks if he would have been any good had he continued. Donatelli says he does not know—the only way to know is the first time a boxer gets hurt. Analysis In Chapters 10 and 11, Alfred succumbs to the temptations around him. For six weeks he diligently fought them off and concentrated on his training, but in Chapter 10 he reaches a breaking point. Sick of working hard only to be told to work harder, and sick of punching bags and at his reflection, Alfred decides suddenly that training for a boxer seems to be more work and sacrifice than it is worth. Lipsyte demonstrates how easy it is to slip up, since temptations lurk all around. Major represents these temptations and when he comes to the gym to invite Alfred to the party, suddenly all the hard work and discipline becomes tainted. Major's appearance in the gym is symbolic; it represents the end of Alfred's commitment and the introduction of parties, alcohol, drugs, and crime back into Alfred's life. Major picks a time when Alfred is particularly vulnerable, when he is already fed up with the training and does not seem to be making as much progress as he wants. He slides right back into the squalid world of the clubhouse and can only make a few half-hearted attempts at resisting alcohol and the other dangers around him. Soon the temptations are overwhelming, and Alfred loses himself in them. Instead of surrounding himself with boxing and training, Alfred chooses instead to surround himself with the party's iniquities. But, seeing James in his current state is like looking into a crystal ball. James has slipped down this path, but is farther down the road to complete moral desolation. When Alfred sees James, Alfred realizes that James's problems go further than parties, marijuana and alcohol. James's addictions have grown deadly, and Alfred realizes just how far gone his friend is. Alfred's sickness and near delirium in the twenty-four hours after the party is as much a reaction to his body's over- consumption of alcohol and marijuana as it is his mind's reaction to seeing James as a junkie. For a few hours, Alfred thinks he has found the place he truly belongs—in the clubhouse as opposed to the gym. Seeing James in his ghostly state, Alfred realizes that he does not want this lifestyle for himself. The experience the following day at Coney Island serves to cement that realization. The next few days Alfred is not himself. Tired and depressed, he is coping with the fact that he fits in nowhere has no one with whom to belong. He responds by withdrawing from the world and nearly everyone he knows. When he decides to go back up to the gym to empty his locker, Alfred has a conversation with Mr. Donatelli that provides him a glimmer of hope, even though Mr. Donatelli's answer to the question of whether he thinks Alfred would ever be a contender is only "I don't know." Donatelli does not promise anything, but the potential in his statement is more than Alfred has in anything else. In every other aspect of his life, the answer to the question of whether Alfred will become something seems to be no. Compared to that, Donatelli's response offers Alfred something he realizes he lost in the last few days: hope. Chapter 13 Alfred spars against a more experienced boxer at the gym. Alfred keeps missing him, as the other boxer ducks away from his jabs. Finally, with ten seconds left in the sparring round Alfred lands a beautiful punch—the best he has ever thrown. Mr. Epstein comes into the gym to watch and compliments Alfred. Mr. Epstein pays for Alfred's lessons and on the way home mentions that Alfred did not take his advice to give up boxing. Epstein also says that Alfred seems much quicker and more energetic at work, and he offers to teach Alfred how to use the register. Alfred continues improving as he spars with others in the gym. Finally, Mr. Donatelli sends Alfred downstairs to Dr. Corey to be fitted with a mouthpiece.
Chapter 14 On the morning of Alfred's first fight Aunt Pearl is surprised that he is not going running and even more surprised to learn he has the day off work. She asks if he has been fired or if there is something wrong and he says no. Finally he reveals that he has a secret and will tell her later. Around ten o'clock Henry shows up, and they go to the gym. Mr. Donatelli is waiting for him and makes sure they have Alfred's amateur card and the mouthpiece. Donatelli sends Alfred and Henry in a cab up to Spoon's place. They look at all of Spoon's books and watch television until Spoon comes home. Spoon says that he is going to school at night to get his masters degree and suggests that Alfred go to night school to finish high school. He offers to help Alfred find a program if and when he is ready. Spoon's wife, Betty, cooks Alfred a steak. After Alfred eats he and Henry take a walk, and then Betty shows Alfred to the bedroom to take a nap. They wake Alfred up and get into a cab. At the ring, Alfred meets Donatelli who tells him that Henry will stand in the corner during the fight. They get Alfred ready for the fight, dressing him in a new terrycloth robe with his name on the back. Alfred waits while the other boxers have their matches, and finally it is his turn. Immediately, Alfred's opponent, Rivera, punches him in the mouth. Alfred comes to his senses and dodges the next punch. Finally, getting his rhythm, he dodges Rivera's jabs and lands his own. The fight continues, slowly and in the same dodge-then-punch manner, and the crowd boos. They fight until time is up and all the rounds are over, and Alfred wins by a majority decision. Just before the final bell, Rivera lands a punch to Alfred's groin that leaves him half-conscious. Donatelli whispers something to Henry about winning not being enough. Chapter 15 Alfred comes home, and Pearl is shocked to see his face. She tells him that she found out from Mr. Epstein that he had a boxing match that night. He says that he did not tell her because he was afraid she would try to stop him. She says: "You getting to be a man, Alfred. I stop you from one thing, you'll do something else." She says it is too bad he has to do something that involves men beating each other up, but he responds that he does not know anything else. Aunt Pearl tells Alfred about a stage show she wanted to be in when she was seventeen. She could not sign a contract because she was underage, and her mother would not sign for her because "stage shows were sinful." Alfred is surprised to hear the story and asks Aunt Pearl what happened afterward. She explains that she met her husband and had their children, but that he died before they were all born. Aunt Pearl is crying, and Alfred tries to comfort her by saying that her husband would have been very proud. He also understands that all she wanted was a chance to try to be something. At the end of the conversation Aunt Pearl asks Alfred if it felt good to win, and he says no. She asks if he is going to quit now, and he says no. Analysis Chapter 13 demonstrates Alfred's advancement to the point that he is actually in position to be a contender. Alfred's hard work has demonstrated his commitment and dedication, not just to Mr. Donatelli and the others at the gym, but to Mr. Epstein as well, who as a gesture of trust and reconciliation pays for Alfred's lessons and trusts him with more responsibilities at work. There is a sense that Alfred is slowly finding, or creating, a place where he belongs, and this place is full of people he can trust and whom he can rely on for help—a sharp contrast to those people who attempt to get him entangled with illegal and/or dangerous activities. It seems as though the world has stopped for Alfred's first fight. He does not go running, does not go to work, does not even get up to eat breakfast. Henry, Spoon, and Mr. Donatelli monitor and regiment his entire day, ensuring that Alfred gets the food, rest, and support he needs. They are all nervous as Alfred approaches his first bout—they all know that his performance in the ring reflects on them. They do not care so much whether he wins or loses, but whether he shows courage and integrity, the qualities that Willie Streeter lacks. Alfred even receives a robe with his name on the back—a symbol of how far he has come. Alfred's Aunt Pearl surprises him that night. First she finds out about the fight, then tells him she knows she cannot stop him, and finally reveals to him that she once had farfetched dreams of her own that she would have given anything to pursue. This moment between Aunt Pearl and Alfred is perhaps the first time the two have related as peers or as friends. The tone of this conversation is not one of a caretaker to a child, but rather it is of two people talking about their dreams and desires in situations that are not so dissimilar. Aunt Pearl is perceptive in predicting that Alfred did not enjoy the fight even though he won. He agrees that this is true, and perhaps this is what Mr. Donatelli meant when he said that sometimes winning is not enough. Aunt Pearl expects that now Alfred realizes that he does not enjoy fighting even in the best-case scenario that he will give it up. Alfred, determined as ever, says he is pressing on. Chapter 16 Alfred's second bout is against Griffin, who is much faster than Alfred's last opponent and strikes Alfred over and over again. A few rounds later, Griffin is getting tired, and Alfred knows his only chance is to deliver a knock out punch. Alfred dodges a punch and then delivers one to Griffin's jaw, knocking Griffin unconscious and winning by KO. Alfred tries to go over to Griffin, but the referee tells him to leave the ring. Henry congratulates Alfred on the hook, but Alfred says, "He just lay there … like a dead man." Donatelli replies, "It's happened, Alfred." Alfred is haunted by the sound of his fist hitting Griffin's jaw. At work Mr. Epstein congratulates him on the win but comments that Alfred does not look so good. Twice Alfred makes mistakes on the register, thinking about the fight and its aftermath, and Mr. Epstein tells him to take the rest of the day off. On the street he bumps into Harold and Lynn, who are passing out flyers for a new recreation program. They try to recruit Alfred to be a part of it, saying that kids will look up to a boxer. Alfred says he has only had two fights, and he drops the flyer into the garbage and heads to a movie. Chapter 17 Alfred's family has dinner at Dorothy and Wilson's house on Thanksgiving. Wilson congratulates Alfred on his second win. Alfred's cousin Jeff is home from college and says he would like to learn to box. Jeff says that he has been thinking of going to Africa, but has decided that he could do something positive in America. Wilson argues with Jeff, telling Jeff to work in a big corporation, while Jeff says that he does not want to work at the kind of place that hires a negro just to "look good"; he actually wants to change something in the world. Alfred says that he wants to go to night school to finish up high school and indicates that Spoon influenced the decision. Jeff offers to drive Pearl and Alfred home so that he can keep talking with Alfred. Jeff tells Alfred that Alfred has changed a lot—that he used to seem negative and "seemed to just drift along." Alfred agrees and says that back then he did not know much about anything. Jeff talks about wanting to be involved in self-help or blacks' rights programs, and Alfred mentions the recreation center for kids. Jeff tells Alfred that the opportunity at the recreation center sounds ideal for him (Jeff). Jeff drops them off and says he would like to come up to the gym sometime. On his way into his home, Alfred sees a bum on the stoop. He stops to talk to the bum, and it turns out to be James. Alfred tries to bring James upstairs, but James wants money for drugs. James asks over and over, desperate, until Alfred gives him money. Later, Alfred is upset with himself for not bringing James upstairs.
Chapter 18 Alfred's third fight is against Barnes, who fights rough. Alfred is slow and hesitant, constantly remembering the punch he threw against Griffin. The fight ends in a draw. Donatelli takes Alfred to the gym and tells him that it is time to retire because Alfred does not have "the killer instinct" and that he can tell Alfred does not really enjoy fighting. Alfred says he knows Mr. Donatelli was referring to more than boxing when he talked about being a contender. Alfred begs Donatelli to let him "finish." Donatelli tells Alfred that he did finish, and it is time to move on, but Alfred insists on one last fight "so [he] can know, too." Analysis Alfred's evolution as a person is dramatic in Chapters 17 and 18. The gradual process of maturation is observable throughout the last few chapters, but here it is especially apparent. The conversations he has with his cousin Jeff over Thanksgiving mark just how far he has come. His attitude is better, and he is neither sullen nor surly, but interactive. He talks of returning to school and of helping out at the recreation center. Suddenly there are a host of opportunities in his life. These opportunities are not necessarily related to boxing, but they have emerged because of boxing and the resulting confidence and sense of self that Alfred has gained from it. Alfred begins learning who he really is and what he really wants. It is interesting that this process is sped up by his is haunting of what happened in his bout with Griffin. In realizing that he is not cut out to be a fighter, he realizes what he really is cut out to be. This mirrors Spoon's experience, as Mr. Donatelli suggested that Spoon retire from boxing and go to night school. Mr. Donatelli and the experience have had a similar effect on Alfred, as Alfred realizes his true aspirations. Even in realizing that he is not cut out for boxing, Alfred also realizes how much it bothers him to have to quit. He does not disagree with Mr. Donatelli's opinion that he does not have the thirst for blood required to be a fighter, and he does not disagree that he is better of following other pursuits. He simply wants to finish his last scheduled fight, so he knows that even though he is finished fighting, he fulfilled his commitments without complaint or fear. Alfred's primary motivation in completing his schedule of fights are his desire to overcome his fear and his limitations and his desire to exceed what he had previously thought was his potential. He has learned that he is someone capable of much more than he previously thought, and knowing that has given him a greater sense of worth. He does not want to cut against that same sense of worth by quitting or giving up too soon, even if he knows that he retire eventually. Alfred's realization that Mr. Donatelli referred to more than boxing when he was telling Alfred about trying to become a contender shows the ways in which the lessons Alfred has learned in boxing have extended to other facets of his life. Lipsyte represents boxing as a microcosm of life, within which there are good guys with good hearts and bad guys with bad hearts, talented and untalented boxers, boxers who are afraid and some who are fearless, and some who are contenders and some who are not. Chapter 19 Alfred is especially nervous before the fight. Henry can sense it—Alfred is looking at a book upside down and asking what time it is every two minutes. Henry says it is too bad that it's Alfred's last fight, but that maybe if he wins big Mr. Donatelli will let him continue. Alfred says there is no chance. Henry tells Alfred how much he enjoyed training him, and Henry mentions that he is the one who bought Alfred his boxing robe. Alfred is touched and sad that he and Henry will not be training together anymore. Spoon comes home and mentions that a kid pulled a knife on him that day. Spoon told the kid that if he's scared to walk around without a knife he should see Alfred and Henry about learning to box. Spoon also tells Alfred that he knows of a narcotics clinic where James can go. Alfred says that he will tell Spoon if he sees James again. When they arrive at the ring, Alfred finds out that he is matched against Elston Hubbard. Donatelli says to untape Alfred's hands because Alfred is not fighting. Hubbard is older, more experienced, and heavier than Alfred, and Donatelli is worried Alfred will get hurt. Alfred insists on fighting. Donatelli even threatens to leave, but Alfred tells him that he needs Donatelli in his corner. Finally, Donatelli relents. Within five seconds Hubbard lays Alfred out on the mat. Alfred gets up and keeps fighting. Hubbard continues to beat on Alfred, sending him to the mat again, and, still, sends him to the floor a third time in the next round. Donatelli comes close to stopping the fight, but Henry persuades him not to. Alfred lasts till the end, and Hubbard wins by majority decision. After the round Alfred and Hubbard hug each other, and Hubbard congratulates Alfred on being so tough. In the locker room, Donatelli says, "Now you know, Alfred. Now you know, too." Chapter 20 Alfred comes home and apologizes to Aunt Pearl for being so late. He also says that he looks worse than he feels. She tells him that the police were there looking for James. James had broken into Epstein's again, through the front window and had gotten away. Alfred says he hopes James does not get caught, and Pearl says that James cut himself badly on the window and probably will not get too far. Alfred takes off like a shot. He goes to Central Park, to a thicket of bushes where he and James used to play as children. James is there, and Alfred crawls inside. Alfred tries to convince James to go to the hospital, but James wants to be left alone. James asks Alfred for money for a fix, but Alfred refuses and says he wants to help James beat the addiction. Alfred tells James that he is going to stick by him, and that they are going to go back to school and that James is going to get a job. Alfred says he will help with everything. James refuses, and Alfred gets up to leave, which makes James relent. The book ends as Alfred walks James to the hospital. Analysis The final two chapters represent the ending of Alfred's boxing career and his advancement to a new station in his life. Alfred's nervousness before this last match does not surface because he thinks he will be outmatched. Rather, he is nervous because this is more than a match—it is a test to see if he "knows." It is a test to see if he has something in him that Willie Streeter did not—something that might not make him a champion boxer but will ensure that he is someone special. For Alfred, this is what it all really comes down too—his own knowledge of what and who he is, which he knows will be tested and demonstrated in this final match. As Donatelli predicted, Alfred is hopelessly outmatched in his last fight. However, he is not outclassed, and there is an important distinction. Hubbard actually sends him to the mat three times, but Alfred keeps getting up. Even Hubbard is impressed by Alfred's resiliency. Alfred finally and fully reconciles quitting boxing with possessing a special drive and trait in chapter 19. He reconciles many aspects about himself that he had been unsure or unhappy about for a long time. In chapter 20, Alfred is able to complete the final reconciliation—that with James. James is up to the exact same thing he was up to the in first chapter of the book. Not only has he failed to stop engaging in criminal activity, but he is so stagnant that he is attempting to engage in the exact same criminal activity in the exact same place as he did before. In so doing, James has to realize that his chances of getting caught are incredibly high, especially because he knows the Epsteins have an alarm. It does not matter, however, because James has a one-track mind that focuses only on how he can get money to get drugs. Alfred finds James back in their old hideout, symbolizing James's regression and fear. James asks for help in returning there, but he outwardly rejects Alfred's help until Alfred threatens to leave. Alfred is not conned by James this time, and he succeeds in getting James to agree to go to the hospital first and then deal with the rest of his life. Alfred, knowing just how hard it is to get through a tough time alone, tells James he will be there for him all the way. The book comes full circle as Alfred loses James's friendship, becomes alone and disillusioned, discovers boxing and truths about himself, then uses what he has gained to be a real friend to James.
Character List Alfred Brooks - Alfred, the protagonist, is the most dynamic character in the book. He undergoes many changes, both physical and emotional, and grows significantly throughout the length of the text. Lipsyte explores a number of issues— especially those that confront teenagers—through Alfred: growing up in a dangerous neighborhood, financial struggles, drug and crime temptations, lack of education, lack of direction and lack of a sense of self worth. Alfred Brooks (In-Depth Analysis) Mr. Donatelli - Mr. Donatelli is the vehicle through which Alfred changes and evolves as a person. Mr. Donatelli is more than a boxing trainer; he functions as a life teacher. He always tells it like it is, is completely candid, and never sugarcoats the truth. He understands Alfred's motivations to be involved in boxing without Alfred ever having to tell him. Mr. Donatelli (In-Depth Analysis) Aunt Pearl - Aunt Pearl takes care of Alfred in the wake of Alfred's parents' death. She is a positive familial force in his life, although she disapproves of the boxing. The violence of the sport worries her, and she wishes Alfred would devote himself to safer, more productive activities. However, she allows Alfred to do it because she understands what it means to be able to pursue a dream, regardless of whether or not it comes to fruition. James - James is Alfred's best friend, but James represents yet another aspect of Alfred's life that is stripped away. Throughout the book Alfred struggles to maintain and regain James's trust and friendship, as well as attempt to steer him away from drugs and crime. He and James used to do everything together, but throughout the course of the book their paths diverge, almost irreconcilably. James (In-Depth Analysis) Major - Major and Hollis try to push Alfred in the direction of James. They invite Alfred to parties and encourage his involvement in crime and drugs. They are also part of the reason he starts boxing—in the beginning of the book they beat him up and threaten him if he does not help them break into the Epsteins' store. Mr. Epstein - Alfred's boss, whose relationship with Alfred is mired when James, Major, and Hollis try to break into the store. Alfred's hard work helps to restore Mr. Epstein's trust in him, as does the knowledge that Alfred trains as a boxer. As an old boxer himself, Mr. Epstein develops a kinship with Alfred and pays for his lessons. Mr. Epstein (In-Depth Analysis) Henry - Henry gets Alfred involved in boxing by mentioning that he works with Mr. Donatelli. Henry is a father figure for Alfred, helping him with his training inside and outside of the ring. Henry brings Alfred home after he is badly beaten up by Major and Hollis. Spoon - Spoon is a role model for Alfred not only because Spoon was a boxer, but because he gave up boxing in order to go back to school. Spoon's house is the one in which Alfred spends eating, resting, and relaxing the day of a fight. Themes, Motifs, and Symbols
Themes What It Means to Be a Contender
Mr. Donatelli draws an important distinction between being a champion and being a contender. While the odds of one being a champion are slim, he knows that anyone can be a contender. Being a contender is not about raw talent or the kind of innate skill that few possess—being a contender, as Mr. Donatelli says, is about blood, sweat, and tears. It is purely a measure of how hard someone works. The reason this is so important to Alfred is because he has never worked for something so hard; he does not even know if he can do it. Also, Mr. Donatelli knows that the concept of being a contender redefines the way Alfred thinks of himself. If Alfred is a contender, then he is somebody special. Being a contender comes not from what station in life a person is born, or how lucky they might be to have received a special gift or talent, but being a contender is a function of who a person is. Self-Improvement In the beginning of the book, Alfred teeters between two different destinies. He could go in one of two directions: toward a path of self-destruction as his friend James or toward a place where he can try and make something of himself. The problem with the latter is how difficult it is, especially when one has little support. Alfred decides to choose the road of self-improvement, which is why the concept of being a contender is so important to him. He improves himself along with his determination, his work ethic, his skills, his knowledge of himself, and his role in life. He decides that yes, he can be someone, and it does not mean that he must be a champion boxer. Being someone means going to night school, helping a brother, and working with kids at a recreation program. By the end of the book Alfred has an understanding of self, and thus, the self- improvement he needs to help him conquer temptations of negativity and nothingness. Quitting For people in Alfred's position, quitting is not merely the ceasing of activity. Quitting is giving up in a way that begets a future with sparse ambition and little success. Quitting seems so easy, as indicated by James's and Alfred's hasty decisions to quit school. Furthermore, Alfred quits boxing, and James, worse still, quits functioning in normal society. For people whose prospects seem dim, quitting seals ones fate, trapping one into a life that he or she feels he or she cannot escape. Alfred demonstrates a will and determination that will not allow him to simply quit. What he learns about himself through his boxing training is that he is the kind of person who does not want to quit, which is perhaps his greatest success of all. Fitting in In a nutshell, Alfred's predominant reason for feeling as if he is not special is his inability to fit in. He is no longer in school, he has no immediate family, and his best friend has turned away from him to do drugs. He has no support system other than Aunt Pearl, and he has nowhere to turn for acceptance. Boxing provides him with a niche. The people take care of him, even though he is not particularly well suited for the sport. Alfred realizes that he does not need to be a champion boxer to fit in—he only needs to possess a drive and determination that others can appreciate and thus nurture. When Alfred fits in with a group of people brought together by the sport, he realizes that there are other avenues open to him such as school and recreation programs. Alfred learns how to fit in because he learns what it is about himself that is worth appreciating.
Motifs
Loyalty The support system Alfred finds in the book is born out of loyalty. The people who help him—Mr. Donatelli, Spoon, Jelly Belly and Henry—are not simply loyal to Alfred, but they are loyal to each other. They are loyal to boxing and to what they know it can inspire in people, and they are loyal to anyone who wants something hard enough to work for it. Alfred had never been treated like that by anyone before, and when it comes time for him to display loyalty and help someone else out, he is capable of doing so. The Pursuit of Dreams> Aunt Pearl tells Alfred that, when she was seventeen, she wanted to sing in a show, but her mother would not let her. She says that what hurt was not that she failed to realize a dream, but that she was never allowed to try. Although she is not crazy about the idea of her nephew boxing, she allows Alfred to do it because she understands that he needs to pursue the dream, even if it does not work out. She understands what it means to need to "know," and thus against her better judgment allows Alfred to continue boxing. Winning A curious thing happens to Alfred at his first fight—he wins. An even stranger thing that happens after this fight is that he is not particularly happy about it. This is when Donatelli gets the sense that Alfred is not cut out for boxing, and it is also when Donatelli learns that Alfred is not boxing to win—he is boxing to learn about himself and focus his determination. During the course of the book, Lipsyte redefines what it means to win; It is after the only fight that Alfred actually loses where he actually gains the most. After this losing fight, Alfred realizes that he is a "contender" and, in a sense, comes out the big winner. Symbols The Hideout in Central Park Alfred and James's old hideout represents their past solidarity and brotherhood. It also represents a time when they were younger, when they were just kids whose lives were not nearly as complicated as they are now. The hideout is a throwback to childhood and to feeling safe and secure. Alfred finds James there when James is hurt and hiding from the police, as if James had tried to retreat into his childhood and thus to a time when he was safe. James had nowhere else to go when he was alone and scared, and so he traveled back in time to the last place he remembered feeling secure. Alfred's Boxing Robe The robe symbolizes Alfred's legitimacy as a boxer. When one does not deserve to be in the ring, one does not get to wear a robe with his name on it. Alfred is very moved when he earns a robe because it gives him an identity he has never had. He is also moved by the fact that Henry bought it for him, acknowledging the fact that his efforts are being noticed by others. The Stairs to Donatelli's Gym The three steep flights of stairs to Donatelli's gym represent a long and uphill struggle to get somewhere. Alfred's journey throughout the book is much like those stairs—difficult to climb, easy to fall down, and sometimes seeming like the top is too far away. However, just as climbing those stairs into Donatelli's gym yielded positive and unexpected results, pushing himself to keep going finally allows Alfred to find that for which he is looking. Plot Overview The protagonist, Alfred Brooks is hanging out with his best friend, James, and James's friends Major and Hollis. The three of them want to break into the Epsteins' grocery store where Alfred works. Although Alfred does not go with them, he forgets about the new alarm system that the Epsteins just installed. James gets caught by the police, and later that night, Major and Hollis beat Alfred up. A man from the neighborhood, Henry, takes Alfred home. Henry mentions that he has been working for Mr. Donatelli, who owns a gym where he trains some famous boxers. Alfred goes to check out the gym and tells Mr. Donatelli that he wants to be special—he wants to be a champion. Donatelli tells him that first, he has to be a contender—someone for whom it is in the realm of possibility to be a champion. The next night, Henry, Spoon, Jelly Belly, and Mr. Donatelli take Alfred to a boxing match at Madison Square Garden. Mr. Donatelli's most promising boxer, Willie Streeter, is competing in an important match. During the match, Streeter gets hurt, and Donatelli eventually concedes. Although Streeter is angry, Spoon says that Donatelli is the best manager around. Alfred begins training for boxing. He runs, eats, and sleeps exactly in the way Mr. Donatelli prescribes. After six weeks of very hard work, Alfred becomes discouraged because he has never been in a real fight—he has only trained, exercised, and hit punching bags. Succumbing to his frustration and to his loneliness in having been separated from James, Alfred goes to a party thrown by Major, partially because of a promise that James would be there. Alfred resists the drugs and alcohol at first, but then he indulges. Eventually, James shows up but Alfred barely gets to speak to him—James is more interested in the heroin that Major offers him. Alfred goes to Coney Island with Major the next day, narrowly missing a run-in with the police for Major's possession of a stolen car. The next few days Alfred is in a stupor and eventually goes back to the gym to get his clothes and equipment. While there, he asks Mr. Donatelli if he could have been a contender. Mr. Donatelli answers that he does not know and that he never knows the answer to that question until he sees how a boxer reacts to getting hurt. Needing to know the answer to that question himself, Alfred begins training again. Alfred's progress is speedy. He learns that Mr. Epstein used to box as well, and the two of them begin to develop a renewed trust at work. Despite the protests of his Aunt Pearl, he trains until he is ready for his first fight. Spoon, Henry, and Jelly Belly take care of him that day by letting him relax, eat, and sleep. Alfred wins his first match by majority decision. Aunt Pearl questions him later, and he admits that he did not enjoy winning much but that he refuses to quit. During his second fight, Alfred hits his opponent so hard that his opponent gets knocked unconscious. Alfred is sickened by the scene and is upset at the brutality of his own actions. Mr. Epstein, proud and impressed, pays for Alfred's lessons. Spoon tells Alfred that he should consider going to night school, and Alfred later reveals that he is planning on getting his high school diploma. After his third fight, Donatelli tells Alfred it is time to retire. He says that Alfred does not have the requisite killer instinct. Alfred protests and says that while that may be true, he still doesn't "know," yet, because he has never been injured in the ring. Donatelli eventually lets Alfred persuade him into fighting one more match. Alfred faces an opponent who is bigger, stronger, and better in his final match, but he lasts through all the rounds. Although he loses by majority decision, he knows that the strength and bravery he displayed in the round is something of which to be proud. Satisfied, he retires. That night Alfred learns that James has tried to break into the Epsteins' store again. Aunt Pearl tells him that the police are looking for James and will probably find him, because James cut himself and was bleeding badly. Alfred finds James in their old hideout in Central Park and convinces James to go to the hospital. He assures James that together, they will beat his drug addiction, find him a job, and help him get back on track.