Black Cowboy and a boy called Slow: similarities and differences.

“A boy called Slow” and “Black Cowboy, Wild Horses” are two very important stories, since they present us two interesting characters. These characters have many similarities and many differences when we compare them. Slow is the main character of “A boy called Slow”, and Bob is the main character of “Black Cowboy, Wild Horses”.

            Slow and Bob are similar in many ways. They both could understand nature very well, which represented important aspects in the stories. Slow and Bob were very patient, and this trait provided them with good results in their journeys. They both proved themselves brave, as well as good leaders, and their actions allowed this to happen. Slow was also similar to Bob as the geographical features of his community influenced him. This represents different actions depending on weather, animals, and other elements. Finally, they were both honorable for their communities, and proved themselves through their actions.

            Although they had many similarities, Slow and Bob were also different in many ways. For instance, the narrator in “The bow called Slow” is a third-person limited narrator that gives us a lot of information about the main character. However, the narrator in the other story is a third-person objective narrator, and it does not give us information about Bob’s thoughts and feelings. Slow, on one hand, is a round character, which means that his personality changes as the story progresses. Bob, on the other hand, is a flat character. He does not change, not even after the events. Slow was a free man, who was always surrounded by his community, but Bob used to be a slave before the events on the story. The main tool the narrator uses to differentiate Bob and Slow is telling us Slow’s childhood, and omitting Bob’s. This way, the two narrators are telling us that, as Slow was a free man, he had all the conditions to remember his past. As Bob used to be a slave, his childhood was erased. Finally, Slow’s story is related to his need for a name. On the other hand, Bob does not give much importance about his name, as if it were not even his.

            In conclusion, Slow and Bob were strong characters, with very interesting personalities. Their similarities and differences show the reader how characters can be constructed differently in literature. 

By: Caio Peroni