The short story, "The Kool-Aid Wino," is about a young boy who seems to have a disillusioned idea about his responsibility in life. He is caught up with the idea that Kool-Aid is what his mission is on a day-to-day basis. The making and drinking of the mixture is the only responsibility and goal that he has given himself.  The issue is whether he is a negative or positive character.

   The matters of fact or the objective claims are of the young boy and a day in his life. One day does not define all of the other days, but the author does focus upon the boy's perfected habit and procedure for making Kool-Aid. The given facts that he may or may not be responsible is in the description given about his siblings with dirty diapers. Another reason may be how he does not listen to his mother's request to do the dirty dishes. Those two reasons may suggest that he is irresponsible, but what about the matters of opinion that may prove differently?

   The matters of opinion that were not really stated, but may be assumed and lead to the conclusion toward a positive character. It is true that he lives with a low income family who are struggling to make life livable. It is also mentioned that he is ill and his family is too poor to have him receive medical attention. What is not mentioned is whether or not he admits to being affected by his environment. Because his family is poor, he is unable to provide sugar for his drink. He is aware of this and yet he is to do without sugar in his drink. Another idea is that the author who was his friend when he was young never truly states a negative opinion about the friend. Usually, the author chooses which characters are the protagonists and which characters are the antagonists. In doing so, the author will also give reasons through the character's actions as to whether or not certain situations further educate the character. The outcome should prove the character's position, but the author did not make it clear as to whether the obstacles that he was given to overcome was his chores or his illness and environment.

   If the environment is at fault, what are the reasons for deciding upon the right conclusion? He is disillusioned by life itself. Though, the story not state whether certain statements are true, they can be used to arrive upon a conclusion The young boy is ill and at times may be bed- ridden and unable to do his every day chores and activities. That can affect a person's positive outlook on life if they are not counseled to be strong and positive in mind. It is also not stated that he receives much attention from his parents and elders since his mom appears only once when she tells him to do the dishes. We could assume that she neglects him in the process of trying to watch the babies with dirty diapers. As in the matter of fact, it may be stated that he is a negative character because he does not change the babies' diapers.

   The nameless child depicted in the short story as the 'Kool-Aid Wino' can only be a positive character and only a negative character in one's own personal opinion and prejudgment. The lack of information given by the author does not present a conclusion or outcome to one, single day in comparison to the rest of his life. The information given that may lead to a negative character is the fact that he does not show respect and responsibility to his mother who asks his to complete the dishes. No further information is given as to what he may or may not do every other day at her request. It is not his fault that his current situation is that his family is impoverished and he is ill. These things can greatly affect a person's mentality about life's responsibilities and goals. Furthermore, he seems to be greatly neglected, and this may also contribute to a loss of self- worth. He is a positive character until real evidence is given that he has done something that shows the reader that he is truly negative.

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Last revision: March 29, 1999
Send comments or additional sites to Frank Edler fedler@mccneb.edu