When applying Reader Response
Theory to The Antagonist, it becomes evident that the personal narration allows
for the reader to interpret and apply their individual views and knowledge to
the text. Many things that Rank describes enable me to imagine places and
people familiar to me, by taking his situations and putting them into my own. It
seems as though much of the novel is written almost metaphorically, as if
Rank’s statements are made to be anyone’s interpretation of them, they do not
have fixed meaning. A lot of the book is about figuring out what his stories
mean in a larger picture, which is really up to what the reader believes them
to be.
Although many of my personal experiences
differ from the main character’s, particularly because of the dissimilarities
in our personality and interests, the content is still up for personal
interpretation. In a cultural respect, Rank’s
stories describe the dynamics of a small Ontario town, which is extremely
relatable and applicable to me as he describes his teen life which reflects my
upbringing, also in a small Ontario town. The personal narration through a
series of emails allows for the reader to form a personal connection with the
characters and setting. This novel also includes the reader’s personal
experiences and knowledge that they bring to the table because it centers on
the betrayal and the breaking of trust from a friend. This is relevant to all
human relationships. Especially for myself in high school, I've definitely been
betrayed by someone close to me that has created bitterness towards them. I
have become sympathetic and understanding of Rank’s anger about this, and
created a personal connection towards the novel in that respect. I also think
that Rank’s references to social media and Facebook create a strong reader
connection in today’s world. As he describes his experience with social media,
i found it be not only intriguing through humour, but extremely relevant. “The
kid’s assured me that i could just click ignore and all would be well, and if
ignore didn't work then i could block, no worries, no more voices- no more
ghosts” (Coady 131). I think anyone in use of social media has experienced this
feeling of people you hardly know, or have not know for a long time trying to
befriend you on a website. By applying my own transaction through the text, I
have found that The Antagonist is very reader oriented, in nature of the
writing, and when analyzed from a Reader Response method.
