Character Personalities from the Novel Little Scarlet - Book Report/Review Example

Little Scarlet fundamentally deals with a historical theme concerning Los Angeles, and the historical background and point of view make it a spellbinding tale. However, the contribution of the characters and their personalities to the success and wide acceptance of the novel is indubitable. The character personality of Ezekiel "Easy" Rawlins is the best illustration of how effectively the novelist deals with his characters and presents them to the expectation of the readers. In his exceptional new Easy Rawlins novel, Mosley covers the events in the repercussions of the 1965 Watts riots in Los Angeles, and the image of his celebrated protagonist has made significant contributions to the entire plot.

In one of the most condemnable events of the novel, a black woman called Nola Payne, nicknamed Little Scarlet, is raped and murdered. The plot dealing with the investigation of this murder reveals the character personality of 'Easy'. He does not act as a clandestine homicide detective and relaxes with his lover and adopted children. However, "Rawlins helps people out of trouble: preventing his combustible former sidekick Mouse from getting arrested for selling looted goods; saving Mouse's girlfriend's life; restoring the fortunes of a bright, ambitious couple down on their luck; and enabling a high-school dropout to complete her studies.

" (Dugdale) The role played by this powerful character tells how effectively the novelist deals with the personalities of the characters to the success of his fiction. The character personalities of the novel are effectively used by the novelist to demonstrate the real-life experience of black societies. The riot and its aftermath, which the novelist presents throughout the novel, convey some of the alarming facts about the black community, and the personalities of the characters helped in the effective portrayal of these realities.

The skill of the novelist ineffective characterization is evident in the novel, and it is the most contributing element to the success of the novel and the theme. Through the characterization of 'Easy', the novelist also points to some of the positive results of the riots, which earned the blacks greater respect and inclusion in the community. "Rawlins is a supremely alert observer of these repercussions, which for him are largely favorable; the LAPD's need for his help means he's treated with unusual respect and is amazed to find one cop even bringing him doughnuts.

" (Dugdale) Therefore, he does not ponder over the racial issues which the author was mainly focused on in his earlier fictions but considers the riots as an expression of the Black's secret rage lodged due to racism. In short, the characterization and the presentation of powerful character personalities contribute chiefly to the world-wide recognition of the novel and the novelist.