Tub, the main character in "Hunters in the Snow," is shown in the beginning of the story as a weaker and submissive friend to Frank and Kenny. He claims to be suffering from a gland condition that makes him fat, and he is the butt of Kenny's jokes:
"He looks just like a beach ball with a hat on, doesn't he? Doesn't he, Frank?"
The man beside him smiled and looked off.
"You almost ran me down," Tub said. "You could've killed me."
"Come on, Tub, said the man beside the driver. "Be mellow. Kenny was just messing around."
(Wolff, "Hunters in the Snow," classicshorts.com)
His beta status compared to Kenny's alpha status is seen early and often, and he is constantly berated for his weight and his serious attitude. However, this proves tragic for Kenny, as his joking backfires with severe consequences. Tub is an example of a character who takes abuse until something in his mind changes; after the shooting, which in Tub's mind was justified because of a threat, he becomes more assertive and more willing to make decisions and defend himself.
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