Fatsis Book - Word Freak - Essay Example

CHARACTERS IN WORD FREAK of Affiliation Scrabble is a game that has in the recent year gained fame. On one hand, the youngsters are encouraged to play it so as to improve their vocabulary, and on the other hand, the old play it for pleasure, competition, or just to pass their leisure time. Nonetheless, very few people have paid attention to the origin of the game and renowned players of the same game. Stefan Fatsis, the author of Word Freak, is such an example of a person who played the game with limited knowledge about its genesis. However, at one stage of his professional journalism, he set out to explore much about the game for his article. Unfortunately for him, he did not know that he will also become deeply engrossed into the game just as other hard-core players. This paper begins by giving a general overview of the book before focusing on individual characters and analyzing their distinctive features relative to the game. Their lives outside the game are also explored and their roles within the text. Stefan Fatsis, author and character in Word Freak, used to play a reasonably mean game of Scrabble-according to what he thought, until that moment when he chose to investigate the game both intensively and extensively for an article he was due to publish. In a twist and turn of events, Fatsis sooner than later found himself obsessed with the game just as other hard-core players he sought to interview. The book revolves around the characters of G.I. (that is from gastrointestinal) Joel Sherman, Marlon Hill, a fervent youthful black nationalist, and Matt Graham, the pill-popping funnyman. These characters spent a great chunk of their time in dictionaries and other sources just to familiarize with new words to use while playing scrabble tournaments. Something what noting is that they all earned their livelihood through the income and prizes from these events. While some of them loved words for their own selves, others did this just as a means to an end. It because of these that Fatsis takes an issue and warns anyone contemplating engaging in competitive Scrabble to come to terms with the fact that it may require them to learn words that may lack outside utility. Eventually, the game demands for mastering the rules of the game, which for this case are the words. Joel Sherman, also called G.I. (from gastrointestinal), is described as a Walking Manual of physical sicknesses. Among the many maladies associated with him include asthma, postnatal drip, and allergic to lactose. Another funny bit about him is that he uncontrollably belches during tournaments or whenever he is engaged in the Scrabble game. In spite of all these unusual nature and behavior, G.I. has capitalized on his brain and made it a master of words. He has becomes one of the most committed players having devoted his life mostly to Scrabble. Also, when questioned, Joel says that had it not been for his ailments, he was bound to become a singer. Marlon Hill is the other non-fictional character in Fatsis book. He was raised by a single mother in inner-city Baltimore and, in his early thirties, he was still residing with her. He is a college dropout who speaks in ghetto slang, not because he detests English or rather not proficient in it, but it is because he believes it is one of the manifestations of white dominance. In more than two occasions, Marlon has resigned from jobs due to perceived racism and gone a notch higher to sue the companies for the same reason. Generally, he is angry and bitter at the world. However, his character in the Scrabble world may be described as personable, caring, and proficient master of the dictionary. He uses more complex words and long words in the game more than any other player described by Fatsis. Matt Graham, a standup and pill-popping comedian is also depicted as a unique character in the world of Scrabble. He rarely works and consumes excessive vitamins and “small drugs”, which he asserts boosts his ability to memorize as well as anagram words. He has played scrabble since nineties, and gradually risen through the ranks to feature in the finals of the World Scrabble Championship. He resides in New York City in a narrow apartment that is piled up with books, bottle, and pills. According to him, Scrabble seems to be his saving grace. In analyzing the characters relative to the game of Scrabble, it is evident that the game has got this addictive component that makes players excessively obsessed. Not that there are no “sane” Scrabble players, but one thing that is clear is the obsession that the characters described above have with the game. The author, Fatsis, finds himself equally obsessed with the desire to master words and win championships. There interests are not necessarily with understanding the meaning of the words, but to have as most words as possible within their fingertips. Coincidentally, the players described are characterized by abnormal tendencies. For instance, G.I. suffers from multiple maladies that make him pretty incapable of engaging in other physical games. Therefore, as an alternative, he has capitalized on his brain to chart his way up the ladder of world class scrabble players. He seems to have accepted his fate and determined to earn his living through winning tournaments. Similarly, Matt Graham has engrossed himself into the game and believes that Scrabble is his saving grace. His addiction to pills and having a pile of stuffed animals simply indicate the negative implications of obsessions with the game. The characters appears to have neglected his concern about his personal welfare. The other character is Marlon Hill. Unlike the other characters, he is a very caring and personable players. However, his activism is evident in the book as he uses slang words in his speech. Ironically, his skill to anagram and formulate nine to ten letter words is not visible in his speech. One would have expected that Marlon would be a firm adherent to English vocabulary thanks to his mastery of vocabularies. Contrary to this, the character uses the platform to voice his complaints against white dominance. In conclusion, Fatsis book, Word Freak: Heartbreak, Triumph, Genius, and Obsession in the World of Competitive Scrabble Players, is an outstanding book that details the transformation of Fatsis from an amateur “living room player” into an expert and obsessed Scrabble players. The characters have been portrayed in a rather unusual perspective where, despite their weaknesses and obsession, they stand out as an evidence of how Scrabble has been transformed into a world class competitive game. G.I., Marlon, Graham, and Fatsis all earned their living through engagement in world class competitions and championships. Reference Fatsis, S. (2001). Word freak: Heartbreak, triumph, genius, and obsession in the world of competitive scrabble players. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co. Read More