Protagonist

Character Role Analysis

Alan Clay

Alan's not exactly a quest hero—dude's no Sir Galahad. But we're meant to see everything through his eyes. And we suspect that Eggers wants us to see him with sympathy, despite his faults. Alan has clearly made some huge mistakes in his life and seems to be headed for a whole bunch more, but we're often given back story that offers mitigating information.

So while Alan is largely to blame for his predicament, there are economic and social forces that are working pretty hard to destroy him, too.