Protagonist

Character Role Analysis

The Narrator

It seems like taking the easy way out to pick two characters to fill this role, but remember how many different storylines we actually have in this piece. The narrator has to be considered as one of our heroes, since he is the whole reason for the story and also actively a part of the plot. This guy's not just narrating—he's creating before our eyes, questing and going through some serious life changes. We're most definitely along for this guy's ride.

Achille

Achille is our second protagonist because he becomes the Everyman of the Caribbean, the character who battles against the loss of ancestral identity and the encroachment of white, Western culture that threatens to consume the beauty and resources of his beloved island. He is poor and somewhat powerless to stop the wave of cultural destruction, yet he persists in his quest for personal meaning and the salvaging of traditional village life. As the true lover of Helen (both the island and the woman), Achille has our sympathy from the beginning.