Chris Szubanski Character Analysis in Reckoning

Chris Szubanski is Magda’s older brother. Like Magda, Chris is pressured by Peter to excel and follow certain paths. Chris rebels against his father’s wishes, however, and takes to building cars and dreams of being a racecar driver. Chris totals a car while driving drunk, and he’s later involved in a car crash with Magda and Kerry in the car. Despite his irresponsible tendencies, Chris supports Magda when she comes out about her sexuality to her parents and lovingly shines Peter’s shoes for his funeral.

Chris Szubanski Character Timeline in Reckoning

The timeline below shows where the character Chris Szubanski appears in Reckoning. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Morality, Survival, and Perspective Theme Icon

...Now, he is in a coffin wearing an ill-fitting suit and shoes that Magda’s brother Chris lovingly shined. (full context)

...John’s tiny casket on his lap. Besides John, Magda has two older siblings, Barb and Chris. Magda idolizes Barb and Chris and wears their hand-me-downs proudly. As Barb and Chris grow... (full context)

Peter was particularly hard on Chris; Chris fought back by taking to disassembling cars and dreaming of being a racecar driver.... (full context)

Since Margaret, Peter, Barb, and Chris left early in the day, Magda had the house to herself in the morning; she... (full context)

...Magda dedicated herself to private medical study, just as Marie Curie had done; she and Chris once dissected sheep eyes from a local farm. They left the jar of rotting eyes... (full context)

With Barb and Chris busy, Magda looked to The Brady Bunch for perspective on her life. The Bradys had... (full context)

...family’s Triumph 2000, an impractical sportscar that Peter had fallen in love with. Years later, Chris would total a similar Triumph while driving drunk. Magda loved the trips to the tennis... (full context)

...committing random acts of violence. The sharpie gangs have no objective besides mindless violence. Once, Chris rescues a man whom sharpies jumped on, breaking his pelvis. (full context)

...Peter has escaped cancer, the years of fear his illness caused wears on the family. Chris throws himself into cars and fills the garage with million-horsepower engines. Margaret, depressed and menopausal,... (full context)

...as a live-in nanny. For six week stretches, Magda is left alone with Peter and Chris. Magda resents her parents’ selfishness, but this soon hardens into indifference. Margaret and Peter had... (full context)

One day, Chris picks Magda and Kerry up from tennis in the family car. Magda and Kerry sit... (full context)

...interview, Magda bangs her head into the wall, calling herself a “fucking idiot.” Magda calls Chris and asks him if he will accompany her when she comes out to her parents.... (full context)

One Sunday, Magda and Chris go to Margaret and Peter’s house; they sit in silence while Margaret and Peter watch... (full context)

...side of the family Magda’s sexuality comes from, Margaret asks Magda if she is sure. Chris pipes up that Magda is 32 and knows who she is. When Peter admits that... (full context)

Magda asks Barb and Chris to attend the broadcast of The Project in person on Valentine’s Day; they promise they... (full context)