Paper Towns

by

John Green

Mr. and Mrs. Spiegelman Character Analysis

Margo’s narcissistic and superficial parents, who are more concerned with the embarrassment Margo causes them by running away than about her safety. The Spiegelmans call the police after Margo disappears, but elect not to look for her themselves. They believe Margo is a blight on their family, and see her as being selfish and undeserving of help.
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Mr. and Mrs. Spiegelman Character Timeline in Paper Towns

The timeline below shows where the character Mr. and Mrs. Spiegelman appears in Paper Towns. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Part 1, Chapter 2
Perception vs. Reality Theme Icon
Leaving Home and Growing Up Theme Icon
Margo and Quentin’s conversation comes to a sudden close when Margo’s father appears outside and orders her back into the house. Margo tries to deflect her father... (full context)
Part 2, Chapter 3
Perception vs. Reality Theme Icon
Leaving Home and Growing Up Theme Icon
...Margo has run away again; Detective Warren claims this is the fifth time that the Spiegelmans have reported her missing. Margo’s mother announces that she and her husband are changing the... (full context)
Human Connection Theme Icon
Detective Warren mentions that Margo tends to leave clues before she runs away. Margo’s father lists some of the clues she has left them in the past — alphabet soup... (full context)
Perception vs. Reality Theme Icon
Human Connection Theme Icon
Friendship Theme Icon
...the others cannot hear them. He tells Quentin that he does not approve of the Spiegelmans’ parenting, or care whether they are reunited with Margo, but that he does want to... (full context)
Perception vs. Reality Theme Icon
Human Connection Theme Icon
...with Margo’s parents to look through Margo’s room. Quentin talks with his parents about the Spiegelmans. All three of them agree that the Spiegelmans have not been good parents to Margo,... (full context)
Friendship Theme Icon
...emerges from Quentin’s room. Quentin tells Ben about the visit from Detective Warren and the Spiegelmans, and Ben suggests they discuss the issue further over a game of “Resurrection.” Radar arrives... (full context)
Authenticity and Artificiality Theme Icon
...the window, Quentin notices that someone has pulled down the shade in Margo’s room, which her parents raised shortly after she left. He sees a poster hanging on the back of the... (full context)
Part 2, Chapter 4
Authenticity and Artificiality Theme Icon
Human Connection Theme Icon
Friendship Theme Icon
Quentin and Radar sit in the Jacobsen’s living room and wait for the Spiegelmans and Detective Warren to leave the house. When all the adults are finally gone, the... (full context)
Part 3, Agloe
Leaving Home and Growing Up Theme Icon
Margo borrows Quentin’s phone and calls her family. She has a tense conversation with her mother , then talks briefly with Ruthie, apologizing for not calling her and promising to call... (full context)