Character In depth Analysis: The Wire

Name: Avon Barksdale
Affilation: Barksdale Orginzation
Motivation: Control of the Coners
Memorable Quote/Line: "...just a gangster, I suppose."

Avon Barksdale is the head hancho of the Barksdale Empire. His seemly sole purpose is to have his name and product be undisputed in the streets. His empire consists of his number two, Stringer Bell, his nephew, D'Angelo Barksdale, solider, Wee Bay and at least two dozen nefarious criminals with assorted talents. Ranging from: soliders, money men, coner boys/men, and anything else to assit in getting the job done.

Avon also is lawless in all of his actions except to when it comes to respecting "the game." He firmly believes that in order to be the man in this "game" you must do what the next man will not. But by all means, respect the code of the streets. Such as the time he scolded Stringer that the attempted hit on Omar after a Sunday Mass was just wrong on so many levels and goes "against the one rule that existed before the game was the game."

In conclusion, Avon is a person who is happy with himself and what has become. Unlike Stringer, he has absolutely no desire to make a transition from the street to Main Street. He lives and breathes the street. Every setback that has ever happened to him (or somebody in his inner circle for that matter) is oddly just a casulaity of "the game" more or less. He has no reservations whatsover. He is in the end, "just a gangster, I suppose."

Name: Omar Little
Affilation: None. Self-employed
Motivation: Newport Cigs, HoneyNut Cheerios and being the biggest baddest "Wolf"
Memorable Quote/Line: "A man gotta have a code."

Omar Little is what you call a "stick-up" artist. He preys on the weak spots of the drug dealers organizations to make his living. Because, really, who is a drug dealer going to run to if his profits/merchandise gets stolen? He is viewed as a parasite of the parasites of the community. I would not go so far as to label him a Robin Hood (of the streets of Baltimore), but I could understand the wanting to compare. Even with the life of crime Omar has chosen, he rarely seems out of control or reckless. He also despises profanity, never attacks anybody not involved in "the game" (i.e. citizens) and firmly believes in the rules of "the game." Omar, in perfect duality, is viewed as an annoying force to be reckoned with, (among deals and their crews) to almost mythological proportions, while lionized by members of the community because he does not fear the dealers.

One of the dealers in constant aggravation of Omar's tactics, is the Barksdale organization. Omar sparks a one man war on the Barksdale organization after the death of his lover. (Omar is unapologetic about being gay. And as you can imagine, he gets plenty of criticism for this. Apparently, you cannot be a gangster and a homosexual at the same time.) This seemly uneven contest has many interesting results and makes the streets of Baltimore wide open for the reign of a new king. And another target for Omar strapped with his trademark shotgun as well...

Name: Marlow Stanfeild
Affiliation: Stanfeild Organization
Motivation: Undisputed Power, Reputation
Memorable Line/Quote: "My name is my name."

At the start of the third season we are introduced to Marlow Stanfeild. He is a up and coming dealer with, in my opinion, totalitarian power being his sole motivation. The financial benefits are clearly not the reason he wakes up in the morning. It is the seduction of power that keeps Marlow going. At times he almost seems unconcerned with the financial aspect of "the game." It appears to be a bonus and nothing more. He is obsessed with his reputation. So obsessed that he even puts a hit out on a civilian for simply "stepping" to him. Marlow plays "the game" the only way he knows, the way he wants. Even among drug dealer standards he has no morals. (In one particular instance, Boodie is very vocal against Marlow's unnecessary disposal of a fellow dealer. Which lands Boodie in jail, then his eventual downfall. Marlow also is very defiant about joining Prop Joe's New Day Co-op. And when he finally does join, he is extremely difficult to work with.)

Backed by Chief Enforcers Chris Partlow and Snoop (which legendary author Stephen King labeled, "the scariest femme fatale that I have ever seen portrayed on TV.") along with at least a dozen working under him. Marlow is not to be taken lightly by any means. His quest for power is very intriguing to watch.

Name: Jimmy McNulty
Affiliation: Baltimore Police Department
Motivation: Being the smartest guy in the room, being the biggest asshole in the room, loose women, getting hammered, resolving the issues with his wife
Memorable Line/Quote:"What the fuck did I do?"

Many times when you watch The Wire, you will witness Jimmy McNulty getting hammered. Now there is nothing special about a hard drinking Irish police, but for some reason it feels almost, I don't know, stereotypical. While the stress of the job maybe a huge contributor to this, I suppose it (McNulty's drinking) makes sense in a way. If he didn't have any flaws I would be concerned.

Nevertheless, McNulty is excellent police. (Excluding his dastardly efforts to capture Marlow in season five.) He gives it his all to make a real change in Baltimore, while his personal life suffers. The ongoing battles between him and his ex-wife have a substantial toll on him and his only escape is more work. (Which ironically is what caused a wedge between him and his wife. I am sure his whoring didn't help much either.) He is intrigued with capturing Stringer Bell, almost to a point where it becomes unhealthy. (McNulty once asked one of his children to follow Stringer to his car, and take his license plate, after spotting him in a food market. As you can imagine, his ex-wife threw the proverbial book at him.)

In the end, you want to cheer for McNulty, but you just cannot seem to take your eyes off his train wreck of a life. His heart is in the right place, just the execution is flawed at times.

Name: Russell "Stringer" Bell
Affilation: Barksdale Orginzation
Motivation: Becoming a Respectable Business Man
Memorable Quote/Line: "We ain't gotta dream no more."

The number two in the Barksdale's Organization is a master chess player in "the game". Stringer's wit and cunning ruthlessness combined with his ability to forge alliances at the right moment, has contributed to the longevity of the Organization. Many workers in the crew vehemently disliked Stringer alliances, thinking that they would be know as "punk ass bitches". Stringer tried to employ a different level of thinking than just your average corner dealer, sadly the only person over Stringer, Avon, didn't like this either and wanted his "corners". This led to an unfortunate war between the two crews, and the eventual fall of the Barksdale Organization. The exact situation that Stringer tried so hard to avoid.

Due to the fact that he wanted to go legit so badly, and Avon labeling himself "just a gangster" caused an obvious wedge between the childhood friends. A wedge that has an effect that either one of them could not have turned out how they expected.