63 pages • 2 hours read
The Humans
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Character Analysis
Andrew
The protagonist and narrator of this novel, Andrew is called Andrew as a convenience. In fact, the narrator has no name of his own. The novel traces Andrew’s character development from a hyper-rational extraterrestrial to a deeply emotional human being. Initially disgusted by the human race, Andrew gradually warms to humans—their emotions, the complex lives and norms, and even their bodies, which he previously found repulsive. As his affection for humans (and other animals) grows, he displays it in many ways: through his desire to protect his troubled son, Gulliver; his attraction to his estranged wife, Isobel; and even his easy bond with the family dog. Andrew’s attachment to his new human community grows so strong that he chooses to become fully human, even though doing so means giving up his powers and his chance of returning home.
Through Andrew’s eyes, the reader is brought on a careful and emotional observation of humanity. Haig uses Andrew to criticize society’s standards of normal, humans’ hesitancy to reveal their true selves, and the way societies reject what is alien to them. Haig also uses Andrew as a lens through which the reader can appreciate the special nature of human beings: our compassion, our love for one another, our joys, and our perseverance through pain and mortality.
Andrew is a sympathetic protagonist. Because the reader experiences the story through his first-person point of view, it is easy to relate to his complicated journey. The reader, too, has the chance to see their world through an alien’s eyes and is therefore invited to participate in Haig’s critique and appreciation of the paradoxes inherent in being human.
Isobel
Isobel is an important secondary character. The wife of Professor Andrew Martin, she is a successful historian in her own right and a talented writer. Long neglected by her husband and agonized over her son’s depression, Isobel is the novel’s symbol of stability and hope. She perseveres through difficult challenges and teaches Andrew how to love. This character is the protagonist’s main motivation for embracing human life. She is the muse for Haig’s commentary on the power of love. However, Isobel is more than a symbol. Though the reader does not get to hear her perspective, Isobel’s story complicates many of Haig’s themes. She tries to rebuild her relationship with her husband after Andrew’s mental hospitalization, only to find herself in love with a man who is an alien. She gives more love than she is accustomed to receiving, and this selflessness helps Andrew understand how leaning into love can help humans transcend their Earthly pain and loneliness. Isobel adds a prototypical feminine layer to the novel. It is because of her beauty, intelligence, and offer of love that Andrew finds more reasons to stay on Earth. Their relationship is the most important one Andrew encounters.
Gulliver
Gulliver is Andrew and Isobel’s son. He is a lonely and lost teenager, angry at his own depression and in constant conflict with his inner demons. Without a stable and happy home life, Gulliver has a difficult time learning how to love himself. Without self-love, Gulliver is dangerous to himself and others. He is the embodiment of mental health issues and the ways in which society ostracizes people who struggle to understand their desires, feelings, and expectations. Although he is combative and tries to die by suicide, Gulliver’s character development is one of perseverance and hope. Being young, he is susceptible to opening his heart to new experiences and people. Change doesn’t scare him as much as other people, so he also becomes Andrew’s rock when Andrew’s life implodes. The relationship between Andrew and Gulliver is crucial. Andrew and Isobel can develop a reciprocal relationship, but it is with Gulliver that Andrew truly learns how to love outside of himself. Gulliver is the inspiration for Andrew’s reflections on how to live a happy human life. He is at times a source of conflict for Andrew and Isobel, but by the end of the novel, he has transitioned into the impetus for their possible reunion.
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By Matt Haig
