"I Kill Giants" Characters Analysis

List of Characters

Role Identification

In "I Kill Giants" by Joe Kelly, the story revolves around Barbara Thorson, a young girl who becomes obsessed with killing giants. As the protagonist, Barbara's journey takes center stage as she battles her personal demons while facing the challenges of the real world.

Character Descriptions

• Barbara Thorson: Barbara is a young girl with a vivid imagination and a strong belief in the existence of giants. She is an outcast at school and often escapes into her fantasy world where she hunts giants. Barbara is intelligent, resourceful, and determined to protect her town from the giants she believes threaten them.
• Sophia: Sophia is Barbara's only friend at school. She is kind-hearted, understanding, and supports Barbara in her quests to slay giants. Sophia provides a sense of normalcy in Barbara's life and helps her navigate the challenges she faces.
• Mrs. Mollé: Mrs. Mollé is the school counselor who becomes concerned about Barbara's behavior and tries to help her. She is patient, compassionate, and attempts to uncover the root of Barbara's obsession with giants.
• Taylor: Taylor is a school bully who frequently targets Barbara. He represents the challenges Barbara faces in the real world and serves as a contrast to her fantastical world of giants. Taylor's actions and behavior further complicate Barbara's journey.
• Karen: Karen is Barbara's older sister who assumes the role of a surrogate parent after their mother's death. She is protective of Barbara but struggles to understand her younger sister's obsession with giants. Karen's relationship with Barbara undergoes significant changes throughout the story.
• Joe: Joe is Barbara's older brother who takes on the role of a caregiver in their family. He is supportive of Barbara but also struggles to relate to her world of giants. Joe's relationship with Barbara evolves as they confront their shared grief and attempt to find common ground.
• Mr. Miller: Mr. Miller is a school psychologist who works closely with Mrs. Mollé to understand Barbara's behavior. He attempts to help Barbara confront her fears and offers guidance and support throughout her journey.

Character Traits

• Barbara Thorson: Barbara is intelligent, imaginative, and fiercely independent. She is also stubborn, often pushing others away in her quest to protect her town from giants. Barbara's determination and bravery are her defining traits, allowing her to face the giants head-on.
• Sophia: Sophia is compassionate, loyal, and understanding. She supports Barbara unconditionally, even when others doubt her beliefs. Sophia's friendship provides Barbara with a sense of belonging and acceptance.
• Mrs. Mollé: Mrs. Mollé is patient, empathetic, and genuinely concerned about Barbara's well-being. She tries to understand Barbara's perspective and offers her guidance and support. Mrs. Mollé's role is crucial in helping Barbara confront her fears and emotions.
• Taylor: Taylor is aggressive, manipulative, and enjoys tormenting Barbara. He represents the challenges Barbara faces in the real world and serves as a catalyst for her character development.
• Karen: Karen is protective, responsible, and struggles with her sister's behavior. She tries to fill the role of a parent figure while also dealing with her own grief. Karen's character evolves as she learns to understand Barbara and support her in her battles.
• Joe: Joe is caring, responsible, and tries to be a pillar of support for Barbara and Karen. He struggles to connect with Barbara's world of giants but recognizes the importance of her journey. Joe's character arc involves reconciling his own grief and understanding Barbara's unique perspective.
• Mr. Miller: Mr. Miller is knowledgeable, patient, and understanding in his approach to helping Barbara. He encourages her to confront her fears and provides guidance throughout her journey.

Character Background

• Barbara Thorson: Barbara is a young girl who lives with her older sister Karen and brother Joe. She is coping with the loss of her mother and uses her obsession with giants as a way to escape from her grief and the challenges of the real world. Barbara's background is marked by her vivid imagination and the belief that giants pose a threat to her town.
• Sophia: Sophia is Barbara's only friend at school. She is supportive of Barbara's fantasies and provides a sense of companionship. Sophia's background is less explored in the story, but her role as a friend is essential to Barbara's journey.
• Mrs. Mollé: Mrs. Mollé is the school counselor who notices Barbara's unusual behavior and becomes concerned about her well-being. Her background is not extensively explored, but her role as a caring and understanding adult figure is crucial to Barbara's character development.
• Taylor: Taylor is a school bully who targets Barbara due to her eccentric behavior and beliefs. His background is not explored in detail, but his actions serve as obstacles for Barbara and contribute to her character growth.
• Karen: Karen assumes the role of a caregiver for Barbara and Joe after their mother's death. Her background is shaped by her grief and the responsibility that falls upon her shoulders. Karen's relationship with Barbara undergoes significant changes as she learns to understand and support her sister.
• Joe: Joe takes on a caretaker role in their family, supporting Barbara and Karen after their mother's death. His background is marked by his own grief and the challenges of trying to connect with Barbara's imaginative world.
• Mr. Miller: Mr. Miller is a school psychologist who works with Barbara and Mrs. Mollé to understand her behavior. His background is not extensively explored, but his role as a supportive and knowledgeable figure is crucial to Barbara's character development.

Character Arcs

• Barbara Thorson: Barbara's character arc revolves around her journey to confront her fears and accept the reality of her mother's death. Initially, she is consumed by her obsession with giants and believes that killing them will save her town. As the story progresses, Barbara begins to confront the truth and learns to cope with her grief. Her character arc is one of self-discovery, acceptance, and learning to embrace the challenges of the real world.
• Sophia: Sophia's character arc is intertwined with Barbara's journey. She starts as Barbara's loyal friend, supporting her in her quest to kill giants. As the story unfolds, Sophia learns to understand Barbara's perspective and provides her with the support she needs. Sophia's character arc involves her growth as a compassionate and understanding friend.
• Mrs. Mollé: Mrs. Mollé's character arc centers around her attempts to understand Barbara's behavior and guide her towards healing. Initially, she is concerned about Barbara's well-being and tries to uncover the root of her obsession with giants. Throughout the story, Mrs. Mollé provides Barbara with guidance and support, helping her confront her fears and emotions.
• Taylor: Taylor's character arc is less prominent in the story. He serves as a representation of the challenges Barbara faces in the real world. However, his actions and interactions with Barbara contribute to her character development and shape her perception of the world.
• Karen: Karen's character arc involves her struggle to understand and support Barbara. Initially, she assumes a parental role and tries to control Barbara's behavior. As the story progresses, Karen learns to accept Barbara's unique perspective and provides her with the support she needs.
• Joe: Joe's character arc revolves around his journey to connect with Barbara and understand her world. Initially, he struggles to relate to her obsession with giants. However, as the story unfolds, Joe confronts his own grief and learns to support Barbara in her battles.
• Mr. Miller: Mr. Miller's character arc involves his efforts to guide Barbara towards self-discovery and acceptance. He provides her with the tools to confront her fears and navigate her emotions. Mr. Miller's role in the story is crucial to Barbara's character development.

Relationships

• Barbara and Sophia: Barbara and Sophia share a close friendship. Sophia is Barbara's only friend at school and supports her in her quests to kill giants. Their relationship provides Barbara with a sense of companionship and normalcy.
• Barbara and Mrs. Mollé: Barbara's interactions with Mrs. Mollé are essential to her character development. Mrs. Mollé serves as a compassionate and understanding figure who tries to help Barbara confront her fears and emotions.
• Barbara and Taylor: Barbara's relationship with Taylor is antagonistic. Taylor frequently bullies Barbara, making her journey even more challenging. Their interactions contribute to Barbara's character growth as she learns to stand up for herself.
• Barbara and Karen: Barbara's relationship with her older sister Karen undergoes significant changes throughout the story. Karen initially struggles to understand and support Barbara but eventually learns to accept her unique perspective.
• Barbara and Joe: Barbara's relationship with her older brother Joe is marked by their shared grief. Joe tries to support Barbara, but their differing perspectives on the world of giants create tension. However, as the story progresses, they find common ground and grow closer.
• Barbara and Mr. Miller: Barbara's interactions with Mr. Miller provide her with guidance and support. He helps her confront her fears and navigate her emotions, playing a crucial role in her character development.

In conclusion, "I Kill Giants" by Joe Kelly presents a compelling character analysis of Barbara Thorson and the individuals who shape her journey. Through her relationships, character traits, and personal growth, Barbara's story highlights the importance of confronting fears, accepting reality, and finding support in unexpected places.