The Brooklyn Nine

Different characters in the novel face challenges that require them to demonstrate their courage. This begins with Felix, as he confronts the fire in New York head on, ready to assist in the emergency even as a young boy. Felix acts with courage rather than resigning himself to Cartwright’s insistence that he not light the fire, because he wants to save the residential neighborhoods of New York. Felix is injured performing this act, prohibiting him from developing an adult sports career. However, his choices help save New York from developing an even more destructive fire. Felix’s actions show how bravery can save others, even when it puts the brave individual in danger. Felix never explicitly regrets his decision, standing by his choice despite the consequences.

This sense of bravery is passed from Felix to Louis, as Louis lies about his age to enlist in the Civil War in place of his father. His bravery also salvages Felix’s baseball, beginning the relationship the Schneiders have with baseball memorabilia tying them to their family’s history. Louis’s bravery allows him also to rescue a blind Confederate soldier from the battlefield, returning him close to the Confederate camp. While Felix confronted the literal fire raging in New York, Louis confronts the fire between the battle lines of the Civil War. Remembering his humanity and the humanity of others serving in the war, Louis illustrates how the trait of bravery remains strong for the Schneiders.

Arnold exemplifies his sense of bravery in the face of fear as he confronts the reality of understanding that his beloved idol isn’t who he once was. Fearing Kelly’s ultimate downfall, Arnold bravely secures a tryout for Kelly as a young boy but becomes disillusioned when Kelly lets him down. Similarly, Walter also sets up a tryout for Cyclone Joe Williams, bravely facing the racism in the US. His attempts to act against the systemic effects of racism fail, but his bravery helps him learn about his own privilege versus people of color. Walter also bravely defends his daughter, Frankie, as she fixes her gambling network to secure her financial future. Bursting in on the men who lead Frankie’s bookie business, Walter doesn’t allow Frankie to be in any danger. Meanwhile, Frankie enacts her own bravery by fixing her perilous gambling system for her own gain and capitalizing on her fortunes as a woman. She passes this bravery on to her daughter, who bravely plays baseball as a woman during World War II. Kat highlights a sense of inner bravery as she confronts her guilt over preferring her situation over what may happen to her if the war were to end, bringing capable men back to the baseball diamond she enjoys.

Along with Walter sharing his wisdom with Jimmy, Kat is the only other generation to pass the Schneider bravery on in person to Michael. While Walter empowers Jimmy to bravely confront his bully, Kat inspires Michael to bravely rely on his own judgment instead of taking the lead of others. While Michael is not fully present in Snider’s perspective, Snider is inspired to learn about the bravery of the generations before him through David, Michael’s little brother. As Snider uncovers the origin of the various baseball related items, he uncovers the ways in which his ancestors showed bravery in the face of fear to lead to his life in the present day.