Analytical Essay: Is Blacky a "gutless wonder"?
             The term "gutless wonder" is a very strong statement that if taken to heart, a persons self-esteem and self confidence could be shattered. I see "gutless wonder" as a person who doesn't have the courage to stand up for themselves and what they believe in. I believe the term "gutless wonder" is too strong to describe Blacky in some events and in some cases it should not even be applied. I don't believe that Blacky is a "gutless wonder" but sometimes I think that he sometimes lacks what we call being morally right. However by the end of the text, it is clear that Blacky is a very courageous young man who is able to stand up for his beliefs.
             After the boat trip incident, Blacky feels like he is the "gutless wonder" that his father said he was. This incident made Blacky feel more ashamed than he had at any other time in his life. "I'd never felt so ashamed in my life" (pg.76). We are able to recognise that Blacky's self- esteem had been shattered by this whole incident, but to me this is one of Blacky's most courageous acts in the text, therefore the term "gutless wonder" should not be applied. His father was obviously drunk because he had been drinking all day so when Blacky said to his father "You're trying to kill us! You hate us!" (pg.76) it was a very courageous act to stand up to his heavily drunk father and say what his heart felt. Blacky clearly took it to heart because leading up to the grand final where he was to take on The Thumper he only thought about not being "gutless wonder" and proving to his father that he did not deserve this title.
             Leading up to taking on The Thumper in the football match, all Blacky thought about was not being absolutely killed by The Thumper and proving to his father that he wasn't a "gutless wonder". B...