Paul Fisher Character Analysis in Tangerine by Edward Bloor

Edward Bloor's novel, Tangerine, navigates the life of Paul Fisher, who is adjusting to his new life in Tangerine. Throughout Paul's life, he deals with the harassment he receives from his old brother and the conflicts that lie within Tangerine. Paul lives in the shadow of Erik, his dad's and his mom's star child. With the recent move to Tangerine, Mrs. Fisher, Paul's mom and one of the supporting roles of the story-- struggles with connecting with her family and juggling the problems of Tangerine. Mrs. Fisher's choices and consequences have had either a positive or negative affect on Paul. Mrs. Fisher signs an IEP form for Paul’s school and gets him kicked off the soccer team, Mrs. Fisher allows him to attend Tangerine Middle school to join the soccer team there, and she also doesn’t tell Paul about the real reason for Paul being blind.

As shown, Mrs. Fisher signs an IEP form for Paul’s school, Lake Windsor, which gets Paul kicked off the soccer team. Mrs. Fisher doesn't consider the results of her actions once she calls Lake Windsor to inform them that Paul is visually impaired. Paul tells his mom, “That's not the truth. I can see! Don't you know that? Why did you fill out that stupid form when you know I can see? You saw me play in Houston. You saw me make thirty saves in one game! Did I look visually impaired then?” (41). Even with proof, Mrs. Fisher still underestimates Paul’s skills, causing Paul to realize that Mrs. Fisher does not think of him highly. Paul proves to be very skilled at soccer, so when he gets kicked off the soccer team, it ruins his chance of being Lake Windsor's soccer goalie. 

In addition, Mrs. Fisher allows Paul to attend Tangerine and join the soccer team there without an IEP. It shows that she finally realizes the outcome of her actions and how they hurt Paul. When she finally becomes self-aware that she had been too wary of Paul, she reassures Paul that she wouldn’t do it again. Mrs. Fisher says, “No, there aren't any forms for you to sign. All I need is my computerized class schedule from Lake Windsor Middle. No forms. No mothers.” (61). When she emphasizes “mother” in her statement, she's hinting to Paul that she won’t make the same mistake twice. Here, Mrs. Fisher finally acknowledges her faults and gives Paul another chance to fulfill his goal of becoming the soccer goalie for his new school.

Furthermore, Mrs. Fisher chooses not to tell Paul the truth about how he went blind. The novel reveals that Erik caused Paul to go blind by spraying paint into Paul's eyes. When the truth is finally exposed, Paul confronts his parents about it, and Mrs. Fisher is quick to excuse her dishonesty in the novel. For instance, the book, states, “we wanted to find a way to keep you from always hating your brother” (1). Not once during the conversation about the real reason for Paul’s blindness were his feelings mentioned, only Erik’s. Mrs. Fisher’s consideration for only Erik's well-being leads Paul to loathe himself all his life. Out of guilt of Erik bullying Paul constantly, she focuses on Erik and his well-being, believing he will improve as a person and neglects Paul in the process.

In conclusion, having analyzed the choices that Mrs. Fisher makes and the consequences that follow, it is abundantly clear that they have affected Paul both negatively and positively. Mrs. Fisher’s choice to sign the IEP form that kicks Paul off the soccer team, her choice to allow Paul to attend Tangerine, and the decision to not tell the real reason why Paul went blind all contribute to the negative and positive effects on Paul’s development. Although several mistakes occurred along the way, Mrs. Fisher and Paul resolved each other’s issues and overcame obstacles throughout the novel. Near the end of the story, it can be hoped that Mrs. Fisher makes the right decisions for Paul from there on out.