An in-depth look at Charlie, the main character of The Watcher, and describes his learning experience.

Essay by seanrussLCollege, UndergraduateA+, April 2002

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After reading The Watcher by Guy Vanderhaeghe, one can feel for the character of Charlie and how he had a great learning experience over the summer at his Grandmother's house.

Over the coarse of the summer, Charlie learns what it feels like to take control of a situation. All his life he is forced to be a "watcher" and observe the environment that surrounds him. His illness as well as age forces him to step aside and let others control his very existence as he is made a prisoner on the farm of his Grandmother.

One experience he has is the killing of Stanley the rooster. Charlie is able to take control of the rooster's life by grabbing it by the legs. He is able to determine the rooster's fate and in the excitement of this new experience, kills the rooster.

This encounter with the rooster is later compared to the last encounter with Thompson.

Charlie exhibits authority over Thompson after he lies by saying he did not see who the two masked men were. In doing so, he puts Thompson in such a disposition that he is taken away by the police, and ultimately rids his life of Thompson.

Charlie is a very smart boy and is able to recognize that Thompson is using him in order to gain power in the house of the Grandmother. Through his experiences with the rooster and Thompson, he is finally able to taste a sense of leadership and what it means to take control of a situation, even though he is so young.