Protagonist

Character Role Analysis

Sam

This isn't a story with clear-cut figures the way there might be in, say, Shakespeare. Nevertheless, we're following Sam the whole time, so it's safe to say that he is the protagonist. He's the man with the plan after all:

Bill and me figured that Ebenezer would melt down for a ransom of two thousand dollars to a cent. (4)

Whether or not we agree with the morality of the plan, we're on board to see how it comes out. It's a rocky road, but it's hard not to sympathize with the guy who has to walk it.