Hoot

by

Carl Hiaasen

Mr. Eberhardt Character Analysis

Roy’s dad, Mr. Eberhardt, works for the Department of Justice; it’s implied that he’s particularly skilled in interrogation. However, Roy doesn’t know or even care all that much what his dad does for work, though he often fears telling his dad things—such as Mullet Fingers’s nickname or Dana’s name—because he’s worried his dad will get the kids in more trouble than they might get in otherwise. This fear seems somewhat overblown, as Mr. Eberhardt is certainly interested in justice. He’s also more concerned, for instance, with the fact that Mullet Fingers isn’t safe at home than he is that Mullet Fingers isn’t attending school. Mr. Eberhardt encourages Roy to be smart, safe, honest, and to stand up for what he believes is right. He even becomes an unexpected ally when Roy is trying to fight the Mother Paula’s development project: Mr. Eberhardt is the one to discover that the company is missing an Environmental Impact Statement and consult a lawyer.

Mr. Eberhardt Quotes in Hoot

The Hoot quotes below are all either spoken by Mr. Eberhardt or refer to Mr. Eberhardt. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Conservation and the Natural World Theme Icon
).
Chapter 11 Quotes

Roy stood rooted in the center of the road. He had an important decision to make, and quickly. From one direction came the police car; running in the other direction were his two friends...

Well, the closest things to friends that he had in Coconut Cove.

Roy drew a deep breath and dashed after them. He heard a honk, but he kept going, hoping that the police officer wouldn’t jump out and chase him on foot. Roy didn’t think he’d done anything wrong, but he wondered if he could get in trouble for helping Mullet Fingers, a fugitive from the school system.

The kid was only trying to take care of some owls—how could that possibly be a crime? Roy thought.

Related Characters: Roy Eberhardt, Mullet Fingers/The Running Boy, Beatrice Leep/The Girl, Officer David Delinko, Mr. Eberhardt, Lonna Leep
Related Symbols: Owls
Page Number: 128
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 13 Quotes

“They’ve probably got all the necessary paperwork and permits.”

“They’ve got permits to bury owls?” Roy asked in disbelief.

“The owls will fly away. They’ll find new dens somewhere else.”

“What if they’ve got babies? How will the baby birds fly away?” Roy shot back angrily. “How, Dad?”

“I don’t know,” his father admitted.

“How would you and Mom like it,” Roy pressed on, “if a bunch of strangers showed up one day with bulldozers to flatten this house? And all they had to say was ‘Don’t worry, Mr. and Mrs. Eberhardt, it’s no big deal. Just pack up and move to another place.’ How would you feel about that?”

Related Characters: Roy Eberhardt (speaker), Mr. Eberhardt (speaker), Mullet Fingers/The Running Boy, Mrs. Eberhardt
Related Symbols: Owls, Bulldozers
Page Number: 156
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 14 Quotes

“Ever since I was little,” Mullet Fingers said, “I’ve been watchin’ this place disappear—the piney woods, the scrub, the creeks, the glades. Even the beaches, man—they put up all those giant hotels and only goober tourists are allowed. It really sucks.”

Roy said, “Same thing happens everywhere.”

“Doesn’t mean you don’t fight back.”

Related Characters: Roy Eberhardt (speaker), Mullet Fingers/The Running Boy (speaker), Mr. Eberhardt
Related Symbols: Owls
Page Number: 172
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 18 Quotes

“Dad wants my brother to come back and live with us again, but Lonna says no way, José, he’s a bad seed. What the heck does that mean, Tex? ‘Bad seed.’ Anyway, they’re still not speakin’ to each other, Lonna and my dad. The whole house feels like it’s about to explode.”

To Roy, Beatrice’s situation sounded like a living nightmare. “Need a place to hide out?” he asked.

“That’s okay. Dad says he feels better when I’m around.”

Related Characters: Roy Eberhardt (speaker), Beatrice Leep/The Girl (speaker), Mullet Fingers/The Running Boy, Mr. Eberhardt, Mrs. Eberhardt, Leon Leep, Lonna Leep
Page Number: 234
Explanation and Analysis:
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Mr. Eberhardt Quotes in Hoot

The Hoot quotes below are all either spoken by Mr. Eberhardt or refer to Mr. Eberhardt. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Conservation and the Natural World Theme Icon
).
Chapter 11 Quotes

Roy stood rooted in the center of the road. He had an important decision to make, and quickly. From one direction came the police car; running in the other direction were his two friends...

Well, the closest things to friends that he had in Coconut Cove.

Roy drew a deep breath and dashed after them. He heard a honk, but he kept going, hoping that the police officer wouldn’t jump out and chase him on foot. Roy didn’t think he’d done anything wrong, but he wondered if he could get in trouble for helping Mullet Fingers, a fugitive from the school system.

The kid was only trying to take care of some owls—how could that possibly be a crime? Roy thought.

Related Characters: Roy Eberhardt, Mullet Fingers/The Running Boy, Beatrice Leep/The Girl, Officer David Delinko, Mr. Eberhardt, Lonna Leep
Related Symbols: Owls
Page Number: 128
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 13 Quotes

“They’ve probably got all the necessary paperwork and permits.”

“They’ve got permits to bury owls?” Roy asked in disbelief.

“The owls will fly away. They’ll find new dens somewhere else.”

“What if they’ve got babies? How will the baby birds fly away?” Roy shot back angrily. “How, Dad?”

“I don’t know,” his father admitted.

“How would you and Mom like it,” Roy pressed on, “if a bunch of strangers showed up one day with bulldozers to flatten this house? And all they had to say was ‘Don’t worry, Mr. and Mrs. Eberhardt, it’s no big deal. Just pack up and move to another place.’ How would you feel about that?”

Related Characters: Roy Eberhardt (speaker), Mr. Eberhardt (speaker), Mullet Fingers/The Running Boy, Mrs. Eberhardt
Related Symbols: Owls, Bulldozers
Page Number: 156
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 14 Quotes

“Ever since I was little,” Mullet Fingers said, “I’ve been watchin’ this place disappear—the piney woods, the scrub, the creeks, the glades. Even the beaches, man—they put up all those giant hotels and only goober tourists are allowed. It really sucks.”

Roy said, “Same thing happens everywhere.”

“Doesn’t mean you don’t fight back.”

Related Characters: Roy Eberhardt (speaker), Mullet Fingers/The Running Boy (speaker), Mr. Eberhardt
Related Symbols: Owls
Page Number: 172
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 18 Quotes

“Dad wants my brother to come back and live with us again, but Lonna says no way, José, he’s a bad seed. What the heck does that mean, Tex? ‘Bad seed.’ Anyway, they’re still not speakin’ to each other, Lonna and my dad. The whole house feels like it’s about to explode.”

To Roy, Beatrice’s situation sounded like a living nightmare. “Need a place to hide out?” he asked.

“That’s okay. Dad says he feels better when I’m around.”

Related Characters: Roy Eberhardt (speaker), Beatrice Leep/The Girl (speaker), Mullet Fingers/The Running Boy, Mr. Eberhardt, Mrs. Eberhardt, Leon Leep, Lonna Leep
Page Number: 234
Explanation and Analysis: