Charming as a Verb

These chapters offer strong examples of character development of the protagonist through direct and indirect means. Henri’s actions, interior monologue, conversations with others, and internal conflicts reveal his complex feelings about his goals, his developing relationship with Corinne, his frustrations with nemesis Marvyn, and his anxiety over getting into Columbia University.

Henri is pulled in different directions when it comes to his family’s relationship with hustling, which Henri refers to as the Haltiwanger Hunger. He sees that as immigrants, his parents and his uncle Lion have no choice but to be constantly working and hustling. They have no safety net in America, no other family they can turn to, and no institutions they can rely on. They only have the resources they’ve collected based on their own hard work. Getting ahead in America is important to the Haltiwangers, and they, like many immigrants who trust their Perceptions of the American Dream, see America as a place in which hard work and clever thinking will get you far.

Henri has a more nuanced relationship with the Haltiwanger Hunger. He has his own version of the hustle; he created his own website to advertise a business that does not exist so that he can work for himself. He also wears different masks for different situations. But Henri sees more sides of American society than his parents have. When Lion recommends that Henri spend more time with Corinne to get closer to her mother, who has power and influence as a Dean at Columbia University, Henri hesitates. Henri sees Corinne as a friend whom he does not want to take advantage of, even if that might mean giving him a leg up in accomplishing his dreams.

In these chapters, Henri’s character is also developed through his strengthening friendship with Corinne. Henri thinks about Corinne often and is happily surprised by her. She keeps him on his toes and challenges him. He also finds her funny and is impressed by her intelligence. Henri and Corinne are very different, but they share similar experiences.

For example, both Henri and Corinne know what it feels to be two of the few Black students at a predominately white institution. Henri and Corinne have more than earned their place at FATE—they are both excellent students who outperform their peers on a consistent basis. Even so, they feel marginalized and know that many of their white peers will evaluate them differently for being Black, assuming they fill an affirmative action quota for the school. Corinne and Henri deserve to be at FATE not because they are Black but because they are talented and dedicated scholars. Recognizing how others perceive them adds even more pressure onto an already high-stakes, high-pressure high school experience. Through his thoughts and reactions, this emphasis on otherness and worthiness helps to show additional sides of Henri’s character while developing the theme of The Pressures of Young Adulthood.

Philippe also foreshadows Henri’s romantic interest in Corinne. When Corinne develops a crush on Henri’s nemesis at school, Marvyn, the resulting internal conflict helps to develop Henri’s characterization as well. Marvyn represents everything that Henri is not: white, wealthy, well-connected, powerful. Henri has to work harder for everything he wants in life, whereas Marvyn’s family legacy and wealth will get him far without him needing to try very hard. When Corinne expresses interest in Marvyn, Henri wants to be cool about it but is actually jealous that Corinne is attracted to Marvyn. Henri does not admit it to himself, but Corinne’s feelings for Marvyn complicate Henri’s feelings for Corinne and increase his frustration toward Marvyn’s easy gains. It becomes increasingly difficult for Henri to ignore his feelings for Corinne.

Henri’s internal conflict is compounded as he struggles with the reality that his dream of acceptance into Columbia University may not come true. Since childhood, he has internalized his father’s dream for him to go to the Ivy League. Contrary to the Haltiwanger Hunger’s Perceptions of the American Dream, however, working hard towards a goal is sometimes not enough. Henri is up against other students like him who work hard, but he is also competing against legacy students like Marvyn. Corinne and Mr. Vu try to be reasonable and realistic with Henri, but Henri insists to himself that other great schools like McGill or Northwestern have flaws. He therefore prevents himself from planning for the very real possibility that he might not get into Columbia. In Philippe’s novel, part of growing up means accepting that not all dreams can come true—especially dreams that you have adopted from an external influence, which emphasizes the theme of Self-Discovery of One’s Authentic Identity. Henri cannot yet accept this truth, so his struggle builds.