Interesting Character

Although it usually takes a couple of chapters to get a real view of the main character, Chabon makes it a point to establish much of Landsman’s character in the first chapter. Landsman is immediately depicted as a sarcastic detective who has been divorced from his wife and a blatant alcoholic.

“According to doctors, therapists, and his ex-wife, Landsman drinks to medicate himself, tuning the tubes of crystals of his moods with a crude hammer of hundred-proof plum brandy. “ (2)

This immediately establishes Landman’s alcoholic behavior and brings up his ex-wife. Although his ex-wife does not sound like a big deal, a little bit later on in the chapter Landsman calls up his partner Berko Shemets and Chabon includes the following description about Landsman, “Unlike Landsman, Berko Shemets has not made a mess of his marriage or his personal life. Every night he sleeps in the arms of his excellent wife, whose love for him is merited, requited, and appreciated by her husband, a steadfast man who never gives her any cause for sorrow or alarm.” (6). I think this description is very significant because Chabon makes it a point to show the clear cut contrast between Landsman and Shemets. Not only does Chabon contrast the two partners, but he goes to an almost extreme when talking about Shemets’ love for his wife which may mean that Shemets and Landsman are not just different but possibly polar opposites. Thus far, Shemets hasn’t really been described in detail so I am still unsure of how true that statement actually is.

Landsman’s character is still not fully developed but I think that his personal life and much of his character will have to do with the rest of the novel since the author makes a point to establish all of this information in the first couple of pages.