We The Animals

The narrator is the boy, and then young man, through whose eyes we see the world of the novel. He is the youngest of the three brothers, and the peacemaker between them. He also gets teased the most because he has more fears than them, including fearing the dark and the unknown. He is softer, but also more intelligent and observant. His memories of circumstances, situations, exchanges, and faces give the story its nuance and tone. He is able to describe his life and the lives of his brothers with a simplicity that is simultaneously straightforward and beautiful. The minimalistic and straightforward narration aligns with the animal nature he ascribes to himself and his brothers, and their bond. He is also very observant of the significance of looks that pass between his parents, and the attitudes of his brothers. Though he doesn’t explicitly describe it, he wants more for himself and begins to believe that the possibilities for his life are wider than those of his brothers.

In addition to his different outlook on life, the narrator eventually reveals that he is gay. Living in a small, rural town, he seeks out sexual experiences in a bus station bathroom.