The Brooklyn Nine

Louis and Stuart represent different representations of courage. Louis enlists in the Civil War by lying about his age because Felix cannot serve due to his disability. Louis’s bravery also leads him to salvage Felix’s baseball and rescue a soldier of the opposing Confederate army. None of these acts is necessary, but he does what he thinks is right even when it could put him in danger. Stuart represents the consequences of avoiding one’s challenges. Stuart’s timidity does not ultimately keep him safe, and he succumbs to his wounds on the battlefield. Where Louis exercises his courage, Stuart follows in fear, worried about the outcomes of Louis’s actions. Ultimately, though, Louis’s bravery allows the Schneider family to continue.

Arnold represents disillusionment in the novel through his idolization of King Kelly, even though the other boys have already lost respect for the baseball player. He continues his admiration even after he learns that Kelly has not been asked to return to his team and when he realizes how drunk the man is and that this drunkenness is a trend. He still believes in the man so much that he manages to get him a tryout, and Arnold gives King Kelly his own bat to play with. When Kelly pawns the bat and leaves town, Arnold’s innocence is crushed.

King Kelly represents the degree to which people can fall when they do not live with integrity. King Kelly was once a great baseball player, but he does not live up to expectations. He spends his time drinking, hides the fact that he has not been asked back to play by his team, and makes what money he has by performing while drunk. He has lost respect for himself, and he also shows no respect for Arnold when he pawns Arnold’s baseball bat. Despite at one point being esteemed by many, King Kelly falls and refuses the help he is offered. Instead, he focuses on keeping up his appearance.

Walter and Cyclone Joe Williams represent the iterations of racism within the US. Walter’s family is ethnically Jewish, but they do not practice the faith. This does not prevent Walter from being targeted for being Jewish by boys at the beach. His family is also denied a hotel room, and this does not make sense to Walter because, in his mind, they are not Jewish. What he does not understand is that people are prejudiced against people with Jewish ancestry, not just practicing Jews.

Cyclone Joe Williams represents the racism against Black people in the US. He and his teammates pretend to be Cuban rather than Black for people to come watch them play. When he goes to try out for the National League team, he must deny his Black ancestry. Still, the coach and other refuse to allow him on the team, demonstrating the extent of their discrimination. Whereas Walter becomes disillusioned by the racism, Williams just walks away, illustrating their prior experiences with racism.

Frankie represents the Schneider family’s desire to make their way in the world in addition to society’s view of women. Frankie helps people gamble, knowing that her father is a police officer. She is able to achieve this activity due to her unassuming role of a female, where no one believes she is working outside of their expectations of her. Like other members of her family, Frankie acts with bravery. She knows that the men she delivers the numbers to are dangerous, but does it anyway. In the end, this serves her as she makes enough money to go to college.

Kat also represents society’s expectations for women and bravery as she plays on a baseball team for women and acknowledges her privilege while World War II continues. Due to the high absence of male workers, Kat understands she’s able to play baseball because of the war requiring males to serve. However, Kat is still expected to dress in skirts and women’s shoes, while participating in a sport traditionally reserved for men. Kat’s story illustrates the shifting expectations and changes in society in the time in which she lives.

Jimmy and Eric contrast in their representations of approaching fear, as Jimmy avoids his fear of being bullied by Eric. He attempts to hide from his classmate and enlists his friends to help him avoid his bully. Ultimately this fails and proves that bravery in the face of fear sets the Schneider family generations up for success. In the end, Jimmy acts bravely by assuring Eric that he will let everyone know Eric himself was afraid of a blimp should Eric ever physically hurt him. Where Eric also has fears, he denies them and uses bravado to overcome them. When the class learns about what to do during a bombing, he tells the whole class that he is not afraid of bombs. He shows his fear of bombs, however, when he is with Jimmy and insists that a blimp is actually a bomb. His reaction to fear does nothing to keep him safe and it does not take away his fear. Eric’s actions demonstrate how bravado is not the same as bravery in the face of fear.