Because Of Winn Dixie Otis

Otis is the sole employee at the Naomi pet shop Gertrude's Pets. He's a shy, quiet man who wears his black hair slicked back on his caput. He offers Opal a job sweeping the shop after the parrot Gertrude decides that Winn-Dixie is an acceptable companion. Despite his awkwardness with people, Otis is exceptional at dealing with animals. He'southward a skilled guitarist and regularly gets all the animals in the store out of their cages so he can play for them—and the animals sit still and heed to him. Otis confides in Opal that he does this because he understands what it'due south like to exist locked up, since he'southward been in jail. This gives Opal interruption, as she's been taught that it'south dangerous to hang out with criminals. Despite this, Otis never behaves in a way that concerns Opal. Eventually, Opal asks why Otis was in jail and he'due south more than than happy to tell his story. He used to play guitar on the street because he believes that music is meant to be heard past others—simply the police asked him to stop, and when they tried to arrest him, Otis punched an officer. In the novel's present, he exclusively plays for the animals at the pet store because the police force made him promise to never play on the streets. Hearing his story turns Otis into a far more than sympathetic character for Opal, and she eventually begins to consider him a friend. She convinces him to come to the party she throws at Gloria's firm, and the other guests are instrumental in encouraging Otis to play music for humans for the first time in years. Playing for people makes Otis glow with happiness.

Otis Quotes in Because of Winn-Dixie

The Because of Winn-Dixie quotes below are all either spoken by Otis or refer to Otis. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to information technology (each theme is indicated past its own dot and icon, like this one:

Of a sudden, I felt happy. I had a dog. I had a job. I had Miss Franny Block for a friend. And I had my commencement invitation to a party in Naomi. It didn't matter that it came from a five-year-old and the party wasn't until September. I didn't feel so lonely anymore.

Page Number and Citation: 59

Explanation and Analysis:

I waved at the woman on the porch and she waved dorsum, and I watched Sweetie Pie run off to tell her mama about Otis being a magic man. Information technology made me think about my mama and how I wanted to tell her the story about Otis charming all the animals. I was collecting stories for her.

Page Number and Citation: 85

Caption and Analysis:

"Why are all those bottles on it?"

"To go along the ghosts away," Gloria said.

"What ghosts?"

"The ghosts of all the things I done wrong."

I looked at all the bottles on the tree. "Y'all did that many things wrong?" I asked her.

"Mmmm-hmmm," said Gloria. "More than that."

"Only yous're the nicest person I know," I told her.

"Doesn't mean I haven't done bad things," she said.

Page Number and Citation: 94-95

Caption and Assay:

I swept the floor real slow that day. I wanted to keep Otis company. I didn't desire him to be lonely. Sometimes, it seemed like everybody in the globe was lonely. I thought about my mama.

Page Number and Commendation: 132

Explanation and Analysis:

"Well," said Gloria Dump. "We didn't practice nothin'. We just sat hither and waited and sang some songs. We all got to exist proficient friends. Now. The punch ain't nothin' but h2o and the egg-salad sandwiches got tore up by the rain. You got to eat them with a spoon if y'all want egg salad. But we got pickles to eat. And Littmus Lozenges. And nosotros nevertheless got a party going on."

Folio Number and Citation: 175

Explanation and Analysis:

Otis Character Timeline in Because of Winn-Dixie

The timeline below shows where the character Otis appears in Because of Winn-Dixie. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...that the owner wouldn't similar it. He looks down. Opal notices that his nametag reads "Otis." (full context)

...that her domestic dog, Winn-Dixie, would need to come in with her though, otherwise he'll howl. Otis says that Gertrude doesn't like dogs—the parrot is named Gertrude, subsequently the shop's owner. Opal... (full context)

...the two animals stare at each other. After a minute, Gertrude lands on Winn-Dixie's caput. Otis says that Opal tin start on Monday. As Opal and Winn-Dixie leave the store, Opal... (total context)

...turtle crush. Opal talks nearly finding Winn-Dixie, meeting Miss Franny, and getting a job with Otis at Gertrude's Pets. She talks about her excitement for Sweetie Pie's birthday and how Dunlap... (full context)

...notice that all the animals are out of their cages, still equally statues, listening to Otis play the guitar and tap his boots. Winn-Dixie gets a dreamy expression and then lies... (total context)

When the animals are dorsum where they vest, Otis looks downwards and explains that he plays music for them since it makes them happy.... (total context)

...She announces that she saw all the animals out of their cages and asks if Otis is magic. Sweetie Pie takes her knuckle out of her mouth, takes Opal's paw, and... (total context)

Every day, Opal and Winn-Dixie become up early so they can mind to Otis play at Gertrude'south Pets. Sometimes Sweetie Pie joins them and sits rocking Winn-Dixie. When the... (full context)

...and then that the preacher will shame Opal in front of the church. He hisses that Otis was in jail and is mentally disabled, just Opal insists that the preacher already knows. (full context)

Opal sometimes tells Miss Franny's almost contempo story to Gloria . Sometimes she imitates Otis playing for the animals, and other times, Opal makes a story up. Gloria shares that... (total context)

...has to gauge them based on what they're doing now. She suggests that Opal judge Otis by his music and how kindly he treats the animals, and that Opal not judge... (total context)

...in the candy. Opal asks if she can have Littmus Lozenges to take to Gloria, Otis, the preacher, and Sweetie Pie. She stuffs her pockets, checks out Gone with the Wind,... (full context)

...baby. Opal says she did, but only considering Stevie calls Gloria a witch and calls Otis bad names. The preacher says that Opal needs to repent, since she hurt Stevie'south feelings... (full context)

When Winn-Dixie and Opal become to the pet shop the side by side morning, Opal gives Otis a Littmus Lozenge. He asks if information technology's Halloween and awkwardly accepts the candy. When he... (full context)

Otis says that the police came and told him to stop, since he was breaking the... (full context)

...and like not having a dog. Opal sweeps the floor slowly and so she can keep Otis visitor and help him be less lonely. She thinks that everyone in the globe is... (full context)

Opal tells Gloria nearly how Otis got arrested, which makes Gloria laugh so hard she almost loses her faux teeth. She... (full context)

...volume close and says that's what they demand to do: throw a party and invite Otis, Miss Franny, the preacher, and Sweetie Pie. She suggests they have the party in Gloria's... (full context)

...is. She hugs Winn-Dixie and suggests they make information technology a dog theme. When Opal invites Otis, he says no—he doesn't similar parties. Opal promises to work for costless for a calendar week... (full context)

...When Opal hears Gertrude shrieking, she goes to the front of the firm and finds Otis with his guitar and a huge jar of pickles. She assures him that there aren't... (full context)

Before Otis tin can run abroad, Opal introduces him to the preacher. The preacher puts out a hand... (full context)

...back out to help Gloria. Opal looks around at the soggy decorations and notices that Otis is even so standing in the rain with his jar of pickles. She yells for him... (full context)

...and clapping a cake away from Gloria's firm. When they enter Gloria's kitchen, they come across Otis playing his guitar while everyone else claps and sings. Opal can't believe that they're so... (full context)

...says that she and Franny talked virtually the songs they knew from childhood. They got Otis to play them, since he can option up any tune if someone hums information technology. They... (full context)

...Franny passes Opal the bowl of Littmus Lozenges and Opal eats one. She turns down Otis's proffered pickle. Winn-Dixie leans into Opal, who leans into the preacher. Amanda doesn't look mean... (full context)