Mr. Goldman Character Analysis in The Wednesday Wars

Mr. Goldman is the owner of Goldman's Best Bakery and an avid fan of Shakespeare. He recruits Holling to play Ariel in his production of The Tempest during the Holiday Extravaganza, and he regularly dismisses Holling's requests to wear something other than yellow tights with white feathers on the butt. Mr. Goldman insists that playing a role in a Shakespeare play is a privilege that he never had as a junior high student—he was too busy working to feed his family to even go to school.

Mr. Goldman Character Timeline in The Wednesday Wars

The timeline below shows where the character Mr. Goldman appears in The Wednesday Wars. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...Bakery, Holling puts $2.45 on the counter and asks to buy 22 cream puffs. When Mr. Goldman reminds him he needs almost $3 more to buy that many cream puffs, Holling offers... (full context)

...tights with white feathers in an unmentionable place. Holling tries to refuse the part, but Mr. Goldman insists. Later, when Holling tries to ask his dad for an advance on his allowance,... (full context)

...spirit either, given that he cannot get out of playing Ariel in the Holiday Extravaganza. Mr. Goldman insists that the part is an honor. Finally, Holling shows his yellow tights to his... (full context)

After the applause, Holling tries to tell Mr. Goldman again that he can't wear the tights because he looks like a fairy. Mr. Goldman... (full context)

...looks at him, and says that it's not good to be a warrior. Holling asks Mr. Goldman at the next rehearsal if Ariel could wear armor since he's a warrior, but Mr.... (full context)

The next Wednesday, Mrs. Baker tells Holling that Mr. Goldman said that Holling is doing well, but needs to work on interpreting the lines. She... (full context)

When the curtain falls, Holling runs backstage to the dressing room and finds it locked. Mr. Goldman is still onstage, though Holling finds Prospero's blue floral cape in the wings. Holling grabs... (full context)

...back to the theater. Holling goes to retrieve his clothes and feels unable to tell Mr. Goldman where he's been and what just transpired. He leaves his tights in a locker and... (full context)