52 pages • 1 hour read
The Enormous Egg
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Character Analysis
Nate Twitchell
The novel’s dynamic protagonist, Nate Twitchell is a 12-year-old native of Freedom, New Hampshire. Nate lives with Mom, Pop, and his younger sister, Cynthia. Uncle Beazley’s appearance gives Nate an opportunity to be passionate about something and take a stand. When Uncle Beazley turns out to be an unconventional pet, Nate cherishes his companionship and vocally protects his interests. For instance, when a whiskey salesman offers to buy Uncle Beazley for an advertising campaign, Nate protests that “all that racket and moving around would probably make him sick” (97). It’s not just Uncle Beazley that excites Nate’s compassion; instead, Nate takes an interest in all animals’ welfare. For instance, at the novel’s very beginning, Nate argues on behalf of Ezekiel, the family rooster who’s been crowing too loudly. When the family considers getting rid of Ezekiel, Nate admits “that made me kind of mad” (2) and proposes instead “some way of keeping the rooster quiet in the early morning” (3). Nate’s suggestion works, and Ezekiel is saved.
Nate’s unique connection to animals speaks to his larger journey toward maturity; though the novel only spans a few months, Nate quickly learns the value of hard work, consistency, and Persistence in the Face of Adversity. For instance, when the hen first lays the egg, Nate realizes that he’ll be responsible for rotating it consistently. It’s not long before Nate grows discouraged by the lack of progress: “I’d begun to slack off a bit on my end of the job,” he admits, “and I only turned the egg two or three times a day now” (17). However, once Uncle Beazley hatches, Nate realizes the importance of responsibility, accepting that “[Uncle Beazley] was my dinosaur all and all” (54). To that end, Nate measures Uncle Beazley daily, mows lawns to maintain the food supply, and takes Uncle Beazley on morning walks. This pattern of responsibility continues, too, in Washington, DC, once Uncle Beazley is settled in the museum. Every morning, Nate rises at early to exercise Uncle Beazley on the National Mall before the crowds arrive. Perhaps most significantly, Nate summons the courage to appear on Capital Sidelight so that he and Dr. Ziemer can better protest Senator Granderson’s Dinosaur Bill. Even though Nate struggles with stage fright, he ultimately accepts the challenge and speaks from the heart. In the end, Nate’s devotion to Uncle Beazley’s, often at the expense of his own comfort or leisure, guarantees that Uncle Beazley continues to live safely at the National Zoo. As the novel closes, Freedom welcomes Nate back with a celebratory parade, rewarding him for his responsibility, consistency, and devotion to his own values.
Dr. Oscar Ziemer
Dr. Ziemer is a major secondary character. A paleozoologist, he works at a museum in Washington, DC, and the novel uses coincidence as a plot device to bring him into contact with Nate and Uncle Beazley. Believing in the unexpected is a one of Dr. Ziemer’s core traits. Throughout the novel, Dr. Ziemer is notable for his willingness to accept and adapt to seemingly impossible circumstances. For instance, once Uncle Beazley hatches, Dr. Ziemer immediately identifies him as a triceratops. When Pop startles in disbelief, Dr. Ziemer explains: “Sounds incredible, I know, and I can’t explain it, but there it is. I’ve seen too many Triceratops skulls to be mistaken about this one” (38). Ultimately, Dr. Ziemer attributes Uncle Beazley’s hatching to a “freak biological mixup” (38) that has likely stemmed from birds’ and reptiles’ evolutionary relationship. However, he’s quick to admit his lack of expertise, as he’s only worked with fossils like “bones, teeth, footprints, and so forth” (41). Nevertheless, recognizing the novelty of his opportunity, Dr. Ziemer is eager to gain new perspective and contribute meaningful research, highlighting Science as a Force of Change.
Dr. Ziemer assumes the role of Nate’s teacher and mentor. One day, for instance, as he sits with Nate, Cynthia, and Joe, Dr. Ziemer points out that dinosaurs, like all reptiles, are related to modern birds. And later, too, when Dr. Ziemer and Nate relocate to Washington, DC, Dr. Ziemer prompts Nate to research “some scientific thing” in the museum (128). Ultimately, Dr. Ziemer is a positive role model for Nate, encouraging him to fight for Uncle Beazley’s safety and advocating for Persistence in the Face of Adversity. When Nate inevitably returns to Freedom, Dr. Ziemer promises to write every week, and Nate happily anticipates a family vacation to Washington. Though Dr. Ziemer and Nate are apart at the novel’s close, there’s a distinct sense that their relationship will endure.
Mom and Cynthia Twitchell
Mom and Cynthia are static secondary characters who live alongside Nate and Pop at the Twitchells’ home in Freedom, New Hampshire. Cynthia, younger than Nate, is also enjoying her summer vacation and is similarly responsible for a few household chores. Mom is a stay-at-home mother, who spends most of her time caring for her family. She adheres to a strict routine, discouraging her family from disrupting their norm. When Dr. Ziemer warns that news of Uncle Beazley’s hatching will likely attract chaos, Mom asks if “we’ve got to tell anybody that we’ve got a dinosaur” (43), evidently suspicious of Science as a Force of Change. Even when Dr. Ziemer insists, and when scientists and reporters alike arrive on the Twitchells’ doorstep, Mom resents the intrusion. For instance, when Nate stays out late feeding Uncle Beazley, Mom complains about “having to keep supper so long for us” (88). Even when Nate cites the value to science, Mom is dismissive: “I should think the scientific world would know when it was time to go home for supper” (88-89). To Mom, science is of secondary importance, ranking after the expectations of a normal home life.
The novel’s characterization of Mom and Cynthia reveals the influence of 1950s sexist stereotypes, as Mom and Cynthia rarely exist outside the home. For instance, after breakfast, while Nate joins Pop in the print shop, Cynthia typically helps Mom in the kitchen. Rarely, too, do they actively participate in Uncle Beazley’s care, or appreciate his relevance to science. When Cynthia first sees Uncle Beazley, she’s squeamish, and Nate decides that “girls just naturally don’t like crawly things too much” (38). Mom redirects everyone back inside the house, where she prepares breakfast for the family and Dr. Ziemer both. Later, too, as Dr. Ziemer anticipates the onslaught of public attention, Nate volunteers to be Uncle Beazley’s keeper, while Cynthia offers to answer the phone, so that she might be a “kind of secretary” (44). In the 1950s, secretarial work was dominated by women, as institutional sexism challenged their promotion to non-support roles. In emphasizing Mom and Cynthia’s willingness to support the male characters, Butterworth limits their characterization with period-typical gender roles and deliberately excludes them from scientific curiosity. It’s a dated ideology that challenges women’s success to this day.
Pop, or Walter Twitchell
Pop is Nate’s father, living in Freedom, New Hampshire with his family. Pop runs the local newspaper, the Freedom Sentinel, and maintains a small farm, complete with a vegetable garden, some chickens, and a goat. Despite its simplicity, Pop is content with his life and with Freedom, highlighting Discovering Value Apart from Consumerism. When Nate first discovers the egg, Pop is curious, encouraging Nate to look after it. At night, he even ventures out to the yard to rotate it, assuming that Nate is asleep. However, when weeks pass and the egg has yet to hatch, Pop decides it’s a “lost cause” and carefully prepares Nate for disappointment: “Well, Nate,” he cautions, “I guess we have to expect a certain amount of hard luck every now and then” (15-16). Nevertheless, when the egg hatches, Pop rushes out to the yard and even helps Nate prepare Uncle Beazley’s pen. As the family anticipates media attention, and even considers relocating Uncle Beazley, Pop remains sensitive to Nate’s feelings, insisting that “Nate’s got a right to keep the dinosaur” (43). He even allows Nate to travel to Washington, DC, so that he might not be separated from Uncle Beazley.
Pop also plays a significant role in the novel’s narrative structure, as his experience at the newspaper grants him expertise to be a mentor for Nate. Recognizing this, Nate credits Pop as his inspiration: “Pop suggested I write it all down in a sort of book, and so I did” (183). As Nate works on the book, he often considers Pop’s advice for effective storytelling. For instance, as he wonders if it’s necessary to explain that hens rotate their eggs, Nate remembers that “Pop says when you’re writing something you can’t take anything for granted, because you never know who might read it” (9). With Pop’s suggestion in mind, Nate proceeds to write an engaging, action-packed story.
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