Antagonist

Character Role Analysis

Andy Jackson

It's often easier to blame others, but Andy doesn't take this route when it comes to Robbie's death. He doesn't hate his friends or blame the guy who sold them beer; instead, he blames only himself for Robbie's death. Now we're not saying he's innocent, but we would like to point out that everyone—even the judge—goes easier on Andy than he does.

Andy's guilt isn't something that stays inside his head. It actively seeps into his life, affecting his ability to connect with other people, his school work, and eventually, his willingness to stay alive. Andy builds things up in his mind and makes them worse than they really are—when he dies, all his friends are heartbroken, but before he goes, he tells himself nobody cares.

Andy's story doesn't have to end the way he does… except that he never gets out of his own way.