Gossamer

Content warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of child abuse and domestic violence.

Littlest One is the novel’s gentle, creative, and clever protagonist. When she is first introduced, she is the youngest dream-giver in the Heap. Lowry adds to the mystery around dream-givers by providing few details about their appearance, and the narrator describes Littlest One simply as a “small wisp.” Her tiny, transparent form slowly grows and becomes translucent over the course of the novel, providing a visible manifestation of her character development. At the start of the novel, the playful and imaginative novice loves dancing and inventing tongue twisters. Her creativity and cleverness allow her to master the art of bestowing dreams quickly and even to find innovative solutions that other dream-givers would not consider, such as gathering memories from Toby even though dream-givers are taught not to touch living things. Littlest One achieves this unconventional plan thanks to her distinctive gentleness: “I need to touch the dog. Lightly, of course. In a very gossamer way” (80). The unmatched delicacy of Littlest One’s touch reflects her caring, compassionate personality and suggests to a young readership that younger and less experienced people have something to offer.