1. List 7 important examples of your character’s personal given circumstances? (7 sentences)
My character is KJ and he dropped out of college(UVM) which landed him on the streets of Vermont meeting Jasper. He is in his 30’s. He likes to sing songs. KJ and Jasper try to start a band with various different names. KJ’s mom’s name is Sandy Jano, she gave good advice to Jasper one time. He also likes concocting and incorporating shrooms in every food group. In the middle of the play, KJ’s best friend dies.
2. List 5 important aspects of the relationship between your character and the character they are speaking to?
When KJ speaks to Evan he wants to play it cool acting like he may not need Evan. In the beginning of the play, his relationship with Evan is almost important as they want to be able to stay in the back of the coffee shop as it gives someone like KJ a place. However, he also has a desire and sees an opportunity to help Evan succeed in the world since he is much younger and maybe good things can come out of a kid like Evan. In a way though when he is speaking to Evan he wants to become better friends as KJ’s only friend is Jasper, and he is lonely. KJ’s relationship with Evan is much weaker than Evan’s relationship with Jasper as they may have less in common.
From a different standpoint KJ’s relationship with Jasper is that they have a close connection, they are friends with similar situations, they are both lonely so speak to each other as close friends and an outlet, they both like music, and they have a desire to help Evan as he serves as a source of hope and friendship for them because all KJ and Jasper have before Evan was each other.
3. How do they know each other, what is their relationship, is status important, etc? Do not repeat given circumstances from above. (7 sentences)
KJ and Jasper have a similar status, they are both low lifes who dropped out of school. They hang out in the back of a coffee shop that is only supposed to be for employees. KJ and Jasper only have each other and have a close knit relationship. Then they meet Evan who has a bit of a higher status as them, he works at a coffee shop, however he is much younger making his status a little more compatible with KJ. KJ and Jasper need this type of person in their life, there are not many things in their life they have hope about. In a way KJ and Jasper want to act cool towards Evan to show they may not need him. However, they also desperately want to be friends with Evan to be less lonely and as a way to have a source of hope through Evan in his future.
4. What do they want from the character they are speaking to. Be specific. (3 sentences)
When KJ is speaking to Evan:
He wants to be able to stay in the back of the coffee shop as he is lonely and that place serves him as almost “his own home”. He wants to play it cool in front of Evan but also wants to be friends with Evan because he is lonely. He wants to find out more about Evan by asking him information about him: things like “if he plays the guitar” as a way to find out more about him and establish a connection and relationship.
When KJ is speaking to Jasper:
He wants someone to talk to and do things with. He wants to use Jasper as a way to connect with Evan(Jasper and Evan’s relationship are stronger). He wants to always be friends with Jasper, and they admire each other for who they are even though they have such a low status.
5. Why do they want it? Cite examples from the play. (7 sentences)
KJ wants friends because he needs them as ways to serve him purpose and value in life, cure his loneliness, and give him hope that there are people who do not turn out just like Jasper and him. Specifically, this is shown when Jasper dies, and KJ is speaking to Evan. He at first lies to Evan by saying that Jasper is only sick when Evan asks him where Jasper is. At first, I thought KJ did this so Evan was not upset; however I think it has a deeper meaning and KJ does it because if he tells Evan the truth, he will feel like he let Evan down and does not want him to believe that their status determines their character. It also could be because KJ thinks that now that Jasper is gone, Evan will leave KJ as well since Jasper and Evan’s relationship was stronger. KJ uses short words like “yeah” and “it's cool” when Evan tells KJ that he has to leave the coffee shop soon. He does this because he wants to play it cool and show that it may not bother him, but he also knows in his heart he needs a friend because he is lonely and now without Jasper will have no one especially when he has to leave the coffee shop.
6. What will happen to your character if they do not get what they want from the character they are speaking to? ( 5 sentences)
If KJ does not get what he wants from Evan, he will almost bribe him. For him this friendship is a vital part of his life. For example, we see this towards the end of the play when at first KJ is upset he has to leave the coffee shop using one word answers to make Evan almost feel bad. He then gives Evan a present as a way to keep his friendship with him but also to let him stay. KJ is also the type who will ask questions and won’t stop pleading/asking until someone does what he asks. For example, at the end he pleads for Evan to play him a song, I think he wants a friend at this time especially since Jasper died but also someone to now stay with him outside the coffee shop.
7. What are five tactics/verbs that you character uses? ( 5 words)
KJ persuades, pleads, ignores, questions, and supports.
8. Why do they use those tactics as opposed to others? example why do they threaten instead of plead? (5 sentences)
KJ persuades instead of doing something like invites because he wants to play it cool around Evan but also get him to be his friend. He also pleads instead of demands because he does not want to come off as mean, but he desperately wants a friend and will do this by pleading. He ignores instead of approaches because similarly to persuade he wants to play it cool around Evan and does not want to appear that he desperately needs a friend. He questions instead of commands because he wants to find out more about Evan instead of telling Evan everything about himself. He supports instead of criticize because he wants to help Evan and instill hope that he could do things with his life and will go places.
9. How do you think your character sees themselves? What do they think of themselves? (10 sentences)
I think KJ thinks he is of someone of low status who dropped out of college and should not have. I think he partially wishes he continued college even though he claims that college is not worth it. He regrets the decision he made and yearns for more friends than just Jasper. He may not always want others to associate him as a person of low status who has not much purpose in life. He sees himself as someone who is lonely but may not want to admit it. He also realizes what people perceive him to be like, and I feel like he wants people to think he is different than what everyone else perceives. He almost does not want his status to matter, and he wants people to like him for who he is instead of the things people categorize him as. He notices a way he can change this by meeting Evan. Because of the way KJ thinks of himself he wants Evan to think differently like he can be a person of advice and a good friend. He wants to seem cool and not look like he desperately needs another friend and is alone.
What are they afraid of? (3 sentences)
KJ is afraid of being alone. He does not want to disappoint Evan and he wants Evan to think higher of him than most people do. He is also afraid that he will not have a place, and I think that for most of the play even though it was not anything special, the back of the coffee shop made KJ feel comfortable and important like he had “a home”.
10. How do they protect themselves? (3 sentences)
KJ protects himself by not talking and sharing as much information. He asks more questions than talks about himself. I think this protects him by taking the attention off of him and bringing it on another subject more important like gaining knowledge about Evan so they can connect and become friends.
11. What makes them happy? (3 sentences)
I think KJ is happy when someone respects and likes KJ for KJ and does not care how many friends he has or that he is a low life drop out. He likes when Evan comes to the Fourth of July because he wants to hang out with KJ and Jasper. KJ enjoys company and acceptance for who he is.
12. In what ways are you similar to your character and in what ways are you different. (10 sentences)
I think my character and I from a personality aspect can be kind of similar. For example, I like to ask questions as a way to make conversation and get to know people. It also shows that I care and want to know about someone. Similarly, KJ does this to Evan as a way to get to know him and show interest. I also am the type of person who likes to be around people. KJ also likes people as he does not want to be alone and needs a friend as a way to be happy and have someone to talk to. However, my character and I are also very different, I am going through school and have a place. KJ has dropped out and is trying to find the place he calls home. I feel like he may not be accepted as much as the reader thinks at home, so he utilizes the back of the coffee shop as his place. Also, KJ is into music and wants to start a band. I am not like that as I like listening to music, but am not interested in it enough to start a band. My character and I share some similarities that makes it easier to play the character and connect, but also have some big differences that make it harder to connect to my character.