None of the major characters in The Assistant are particularly competitive. This is one of the reasons they fail: they're uncompetitive in a competitive world. As much as Morris Bober, a grocer, would just like to do reasonably well for himself and his family, his store is not the only grocery in town. He can't contend with his competitor, not in prices nor in pizzazz. Competition only adds to his misery and the ill health of his store. The novel takes us into the lives of people who are unable or unwilling to compete and must therefore suffer the consequences.
Questions About Competition
- Why do you think Morris's business improves after hiring Frank Alpine? Is it mostly due to Frank or to other factors?
- Why does Morris make so little effort to make his grocery competitive?
- How does a competitive spirit play in to the romantic relationships of the novel?
- In the world of The Assistant, can you be competitive if you're also honest? Why or why not?
Chew on This
Try on an opinion or two, start a debate, or play the devil’s advocate.
Morris is to blame for the poor performance of his store.
The decline in business is out of Morris's hands.