Plot
“The Fugitive” by T. Coraghessan Boyle is the tale of Marciano, a Mexican-American citizen of the United States who battles a contagious illness. The story revolves around Marciano’s attempts to manage his life while interacting with the public health workers who are treating him for tuberculosis (Boyle, 2016). Its significance lies in investigating the human consequences of public health initiatives and the moral problems between individual rights and public health measures. The narrative is linear, as it does not include breaks or flashbacks.
Characters
Through his introspective thoughts and deeds, the protagonist, Marciano, demonstrates the complex challenges and anguish he experiences in his attempt to deal with his illness. The severity of Marciano’s health worsens during the story, leading to a request for his departure, even if his illness makes it difficult (Boyle, 2016). This emphasizes the sad results of the character’s resolve and his helplessness to change his current situation.
Setting
Despite the absence of a detailed description of the setting, it is reasonable to assume that the story is set in a contemporary metropolis, where Marciano is exposed to various public health protocols and therapies. Readers are led to believe that the protagonist would make terrible decisions because of his vulnerable situation, which creates a sad and poignant tone.
Point of View
The third-person narrative of “The Fugitive” is told from Marciano’s point of view. The narrator gives the reader a window into Marciano’s thoughts and feelings, enabling them to identify with his problems and comprehend the moral conundrums of public health intervention (Boyle, 2016). The reader can believe the facts supplied even though the narrator is not neutral, since they emphasize Marciano’s perspective, which divulges the character’s inner thoughts and feelings.
Characterization
The story’s main character, Marciano, is a Mexican-American with tuberculosis. Marciano is a made-up individual, and readers can learn about his battles with the illness and the efforts of the public health experts caring for him through his thoughts and deeds (Boyle, 2016). Marciano’s character does not change much throughout the story since he stays in a bleak situation and is powerless to change it.
Tone, Imagery, and Symbolism
A somber, urgent tone of the reading is accentuated by the imagery used in the reading, which also highlights how bad things are for the protagonist. Through these, the audience gets to understand what Marciano was undergoing in context. Three instances of these imageries can be found in the text (Boyle, 2016):
- Marciano’s cough is compared to “the long dredging cough that was like the sea drawing back over the stones at low tide.”
- The inside of his mask turns red as he coughs.
- He failed to attempt to flee while the police broke down the door, during which he choked on blood, phlegm, and dirt.
Themes
In this story, the author appears to be making several points. One subject is how public health interventions affect people, as public health professionals restrict Marciano’s freedom to choose his treatment course (Boyle, 2016). This raises moral concerns about how to strike a balance between private property rights and public health initiatives.
Another subject is the disastrous results of people’s actions, as Marciano’s attempts to escape his predicament only result in more pain and failure (Boyle, 2016). Overall, the narrative serves as a provocative examination of these themes, urging readers to reflect on the difficulties associated with public health interventions and their impact on people’s lives.
Reference
Boyle, T. C. (2016). “The Fugitive.” The New Yorker. Web.