John D. MacDonald’s short story “End of the Tiger” tells the tale of how a goose affected the life of one family. The author describes Gretchen, the goose in the story, in a positive way. By using various methods of characterization, John D. MacDonald is able to portray Gretchen as an innocent and friendly character. Gretchen’s positive qualities are emphasized through her physical appearance, her actions, and through what other characters say about …showed first 75 words of 827 total…

…showed last 75 words of 827 total…as an innocent character. Secondly, Gretchen’s actions, including her interaction with the family, show her as someone who is friendly and gentle. Lastly, the reader can clearly see that Gretchen is a likable individual with her own likes and dislikes when reading about what other characters say about her. Gretchen may be but a goose, but through John D. MacDonald’s clever use of characterization, she emerges as an interesting character with sufficient depth.