Scrappy: Character Analysis
Quick Facts: Scrappy, whose real name is never mentioned, is Charlie Reese's father and a mostly absent figure in Wish. His defining characteristic is his penchant for fighting, which leads to his incarceration at the beginning of the story. His key relationships are with his daughters, Charlie and Jackie, and his wife, Mama (Carla).
Who He Is
Scrappy is the embodiment of the troubled family life that Charlie leaves behind. His actions set the plot in motion, forcing Charlie to live with her aunt and uncle in Colby. Despite his flaws and the pain he inflicts, he remains a figure of love and longing for Charlie, who cherishes memories of their happier times and desperately wishes for their family to be whole again. He represents the theme of The Meaning of Family in its most broken and complicated form.
Personality & Traits
Scrappy's personality is a complex mix of aggression and affection, leaving a lasting impact on his daughters. While his actions are often destructive, Charlie clings to the hope that he can change.
- Aggressive and Volatile: His nickname, "Scrappy," is well-earned, reflecting his "fiery red temper" and constant fighting. This aggression leads to his repeated incarceration, disrupting his family's life.
- Negligent: His reckless behavior, combined with his wife's depression, creates an unstable home environment that necessitates intervention from social services. The authorities determine that he and Mama are unable to provide their children with a "stable family environment."
- Affectionate (in memory): Despite his temper, Charlie holds onto fond memories of him. She recalls how they used to go fishing, play poker, and watch Wheel of Fortune together. These moments reveal a softer side to his character and explain Charlie's deep-seated wish to have her family back.
- Uncommunicative: His letters from the correctional center are brief and superficial, mentioning "lumpy gravy and lousy pillow" but offering little emotional depth or remorse. This lack of communication highlights his inability to connect with his daughter on an emotional level.
Character Journey
Scrappy remains a largely static character throughout the story, with his development occurring off-page and relayed through others. He begins and ends the story in jail, defined by the actions that put him there. His presence is primarily felt through Charlie's memories and her struggle with the temper she inherited from him, a key part of her journey toward Healing and Overcoming Trauma. The most significant hint of internal change is his tattoo of a "blackbird in a cage," which Jackie describes to Charlie, suggesting a newfound awareness of his own entrapment, whether by the law or by his own nature.
Key Relationships
- Charlie Reese: Scrappy has a profound impact on his younger daughter. Charlie not only inherited his temper but also his love for certain activities. Her central wish throughout the book is to reunite her family, which includes getting her father out of jail. He is both the source of her trauma and the object of her hope.
- Mama (Carla): His relationship with his wife is extremely contentious. Charlie describes them hollering at each other "the livelong day." Their constant conflict is the primary source of the family's dysfunction, creating a chaotic and unstable environment for their children.
- Jackie: His older daughter seems more resigned to his behavior. She visits him in jail and brings him supplies, but she is also focused on building a life for herself, separate from the chaos of her parents. Jackie's practicality contrasts with Charlie's idealism, reflecting different ways of coping with their father's flaws.
Defining Moments
- Incarceration: Scrappy's arrest for fighting before the story begins is the inciting incident that sends Charlie to Colby. This event sets the entire plot in motion, forcing Charlie to confront her past and build a new life.
- Letters from Jail: Scrappy sends a few short letters to Charlie from the "Wake County Correctional Center." These brief notes are his only direct communication in the story and show that he is thinking of her, even if he can't express it well.
- The Blackbird Tattoo: In Chapter 18, Jackie tells Charlie that Scrappy got a tattoo of "a blackbird in a cage" on his hand. This moment provides a deep, symbolic insight into his character's state of mind, suggesting he feels trapped and powerless.
Symbolism
Scrappy symbolizes the brokenness of Charlie's original family unit. He is the embodiment of chaos, anger, and instability. His nickname itself suggests a life defined by conflict. The tattoo of the caged blackbird is a potent symbol of his imprisonment, both literal and metaphorical. It represents a man trapped by his own temper and the consequences of his actions, unable to be the father his daughter wishes for.
Essential Quotes
My sister, Jackie, inherited Daddy’s inky black hair and I inherited his fiery red temper. If I had a nickel for every time I’ve heard “The apple don’t fall far from the tree,” I’d be rich. Daddy fights so much that everybody calls him Scrappy. In fact, at this very minute, while I’m stuck here in Colby, North Carolina, surrounded by hillbilly kids, ole Scrappy is back in Raleigh in the county jail again because of his fondness for fighting.
This quote establishes Scrappy's central role in Charlie's life, highlighting the direct impact of his actions on her circumstances. It also introduces the theme of inherited traits, both physical and temperamental, that Charlie grapples with throughout the novel.
Dear Charlie, It’s your old Scrappy pappy here saying hello and how are you? I am fine. This place is okay except for the lumpy gravy and lousy pillow. Jackie came to visit and brought me Hershey bars and toothpaste. I bet you are having fun with Gus and Bertha. Tell them I will send some money when I can. Love, Scrappy
This letter, while simple, reveals Scrappy's limited ability to express his emotions and connect with Charlie on a deeper level. The mundane details he includes contrast with the profound impact his absence has on her life, underscoring the emotional distance between them.