About My Very Tortured Friend, Peter - Character Analysis

Creative Response:
Write a character analysis of Peter. Who is he? How does he think? Why is he so tortured? What is Peter's problem? Try to figure this poor guy out. [Analysis of the poem "About My Very Tortured Friend, Peter"

by Charles Bukowski]

I believe Peter is a very creative person based on the fact that his work has been featured and he has been interviewed for magazines. 

A problem he faces is he’s very self conscious about himself and what people think of him. To the point where he isn't sure when to talk about himself, his “talent” or his knowledge. Your can see this in how he gets irritated with the salesman. In the text he corrects the salesman, then insults him for not knowing who created Fidelio. Trying to show how much more he knows than the person twice his age. Hoping it will make him feel better than someone, a feeling that doesn't come often for him.

A big problem that Peter faces, like many creative people is the fear of failing and not “making it.” He is not fully willing to take the risk and try to make the jump, quit his job (that he hates), go in the small room and do the thing, he wants to feel secure. He is also afraid that turning his passion into a job will not translate well. Instead of being something of ease and interest, adding the working mentality will make him lose his interest and no longer being creative.

Almost every artist has trouble with the decision to make the jump and try make a living out of their passion, but adding a self conscious questioning of themselves will never help. There is a high chance he will not make that jump, and will regret not even trying. He’s filled with doubts, mainly about him, by him. I too believe that Peter is a very tortured person.

Another reason I believe that Peter doesn't want to make the jump, is because he is “entertained” with the place he is in. Right now, he is not being compared to professionals, he is just being compared to his fellow citizen. Making him seem and feel better. Once In a professional position, his work will be criticized and questioned, not praised. he is already questioning his own work, and he might not be ready to hear someone else question it too.  

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I feel the reason that I feel like I understand this character, is because I relate to this character. I think every artist can relate to this character. I honestly don’t think that Peter is a character, more an actual part of every artist or person in one way or another.