Character Clues

Character Analysis

Physical Appearances

Chester gives us a sense of the characters in the story by telling us what they look like. He does this when he's describing the other code talkers, for example. He describes Lowell Damon, one of the code talkers, as "fairly tall and skinny," and Frank Pete, another code talker, as a "small guy" (10.54). By telling us how tall, short, or old they are, Nez gives us a visual picture of his buddies, which allows us to see them more clearly.

Thoughts and Opinions

Given that Code Talker is told to us in the first person, it's no surprise that thoughts and opinions are an important way by which we get an understanding of the characters—and especially Chester—in the book.

Chester shares his hopes, his fears, and his emotions with us. As he's about to land on Guadalcanal, for example, he tells us:

"I could have stayed in high school, I thought. Maybe I should have. But, as a warrior, how could I ignore the fact that my country had been attacked?" (1.8)

By sharing with us his thoughts and his doubts at this moment, we get a better understanding of Chester is as a person. He could have taken the easy path (and stayed in high school), but he chooses to defend his country instead.

Direct Characterization

Another way that Chester gives us a sense of the characters in the book is by summarizing them or telling us about them. In one scene, he describes a lieutenant from New York that he especially doesn't like. He says:

"He had a mean streak and a desire for personal glory that made him especially dangerous to the men under his command." (15.28)

This type of direct characterization is used by Chester to give us a summary of the various characters that he encounters during the war.