The bullfight acts as one of the novel’s most significant plot events. It functions as a symbol, an instance of foreshadowing, and a catalyst for the change that occurs in Robert’s character. When Locke first sees the bullfight poster, he is mesmerized, even though he does not understand why. During the fight, Robert goes back and forth between “the sergeant” persona and himself, unable to witness the violence emotionally. However, he cannot hide his emotion for the duration of the fight; Manny sees that Robert is immensely disturbed by the suffering and killing of the bull, especially because it is, “All for nothing” and “a game” (94), phrases that Paulsen uses repetitively to emphasize Robert’s discomfort and growing frustration. Eventually, Robert chooses to leave because he can no longer watch the crowds cheering over the blood and death. However, the bullfight stays in his mind and forces him to open up emotionally, even if only gradually. He cannot suppress hallucinations of his friends as much because he thinks of them when he remembers the bull.

When Robert fights the four traffickers at the novel’s conclusion, Paulsen shows that Robert represents the bull. The men come at him one at a time and slash him with their knives, just as the matador slashes the bull.