Protagonist

Character Role Analysis

The American Wife

There are a few reasons that explain why the American Wife/American Girl the protagonist of this story. The main one is how predominant her perspective is in the narrative. We see the view from the hotel window from her eyes and we see the padrone and the maid through her interpretive lens. In a way, everything that happens (even though always told from a third-person perspective) is told in relation to how it affects the wife—you'd think the world revolved around her or something; no wonder she's so self-centered. Her movements and interactions also align with the general arc of the plot. The narration follows her in her movements downstairs, outside, upstairs. It even follows the turns of her head and attitudes of her body in a way that it doesn't with any other character. The wife is the center of change and significance, conflict and resolution. You may not like her—and you may not think Hemingway likes her either—but these are the cards we've been dealt. Hey, nobody's perfect.