Stebbins:
I think that Stebbins was completely underestimated. In the beggining of the walk, Garraty was talking about how he didn't think Stebbins would last long before he had even talked to him. He even thought that Stebbins would be the first one eliminated. In chapter 15, with less than a quarter of the original walkers still alive, Stebbins is still going, and he said that he felt he could "walk all the way to Flordia" (322). He also seems to be the most determined to win out of all the walkers. While others, like McVries, are helping out their friends (he saved Garraty's life twice), Stebbins is only looking out for himself. He stays in the back and dosen't waste any energy. Also, he knows how to get in the other walkers heads and drive them crazy, which he uses to his advantage. For example, he knew that the chance of seeing Jan in Freeport was the only thing keeping Garraty going, so he told him that he wouldn't be able to see Jan in the crowd because "the cops'll be too busy holding everybody back to get her through to the front" (321). This kills Garraty's motivation and causes him to lose focus. I think because Stebbins is determined, and he has a strategy to win, he's going to go really far and probably win if Garraty dosen't.
Barkovitch:
Barkovitch was made out to be the antagonist of the story from the start. McVries labels him as a killer because his actions led to Rank's death. Barkovitch always said mean things to the other walkers, such as telling them that he's going to dance on their graves after they're killed. I can't tell if Barkovitch is completely a bad person, or if there's some good in him. While he seems completely bad at first glance, every one in a while he seems to open up to Ray and he confesses that he dosen't want to be the way he is. For example, in chapter 14, Barkovitch broke down and started whining to Ray, saying "Don't hate me," and "I'll be sorry" (310). It seemed like for a second he was regretting the things he had said, but moments later he went back to being his usual self. Also, earlier in the story, he tried telling Garraty that he was really a good guy, but he had just gotten off on the wrong foot with the other walkers. He also said, "I never had much of a crowd back home" and "I used to carry a switchblade back at my high school on account of guys wanting to tear my ass," (271). I think because outside of the walk, he has no friends and he's used to people beating him up and picking on him, he trys to act tough and mean during the walk to keep the other walkers from treating him like he gets treated at home. Then again, at the time he was killed in chapter 14, he stilled seemed to be the same way he was at the start. Do you think Barkovitch is truly a bad person, or is there some good in him?
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