Victor's life in Paperboy may be difficult in some ways what with the stuttering and all, but he's lucky in that he has a lot of people who love him. His parents are always there for him, even when he throws up on himself in a restaurant with all of their friends watching. And even though Mam and his father aren't biologically related to Victor, they still treat him like family and would do anything for him. Even his friends—both old and new—see the goodness in him and are proud to be seen with him. This kid has no shortage of good people in his life.
Questions About Love
- Who is Victor's best friend? Why this person? How does Victor see them?
- How does Victor know that his father loves him and sees him as a son? In other words, how does he show it, and what does Victor's dad do that signals love to Victor?
- How does Mam put herself on the line to help Victor out? Why does she?
Chew on This
Even though Victor loves his parents a lot, his relationship with Mam is unique because he spends the most time with her and she understands him more than his parents do. Their love is built on deep trust and understanding.
Through his paper route, Victor comes to see the problems in Mrs. Worthington's life and how she doesn't have real love in her relationships. This lack of love is what's tearing her apart and making her turn to self-destructive pastimes.