Ali Character Analysis in About a Boy

Ali is Rachel’s 12-year-old son who is initially unhappy with his mum dating Will. He threatens to “kill” Marcus almost immediately after meeting him. Due to Rachel’s previous disastrous relationship, Ali is skeptical of her romantic partners and wants to protect her from future heartache and mistreatment. Though Marcus’s and Ali’s relationship is at first tumultuous, they eventually develop a friendship. As Will and Rachel’s relationship grows more serious, Will, Ali, and Marcus develop a regular tradition of eating fast food and going to the movies together.

Ali Character Timeline in About a Boy

The timeline below shows where the character Ali appears in About a Boy. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...She grows excited and shares that she also has a son around Marcus’s age named Ali, and they talk about their exes. Will implies that Fiona is his ex-girlfriend. Ringing in... (full context)

To prepare for their lunch with Rachel and her son , Marcus tries to get on the same page as Will regarding their “backstory” by... (full context)

Identity, Pop Culture, and Fitting In Theme Icon

Will, Marcus, and Rachel go upstairs to meet Rachel’s son, Ali. As they enter Ali’s bedroom, Will takes in the Michael Jordan and Pamela Anderson wall... (full context)

Almost immediately after Will and Rachel go downstairs, Ali begins threatening Marcus, saying that if Will starts dating his mum, he’ll kill Marcus. Trying... (full context)

...that no one is mad at Marcus; Rachel thought “something like this might happen” because Ali can sometimes be “difficult.” Will is tasked with bringing him back to Rachel’s so Ali... (full context)

...exit turns out to be a positive thing for everyone. When Will and Marcus return, Ali tearfully apologizes. The last person Rachel dated showed little consideration for Ali, and the relationship... (full context)

...yet thrilling, territory. In an effort to impress her, Will begins regularly taking Marcus and Ali—who now get along much better than during their first encounter—to the movies, and he finds... (full context)

On one of their outings, Marcus and Ali strike up a conversation about whether Will will marry Rachel one day. Marcus explains how... (full context)