Columbine

by

Dave Cullen

Nate Dykeman Character Analysis

One of Eric’s friends who was off-campus at the time of the shooting. Once he hears that the shooters inside Columbine are wearing trench coats, he becomes “terrified” that Eric and Dylan are responsible. While the attack is still going on, Nate calls Tom Klebold, Dylan’s father, to ask him to check Dylan’s closet for a trench coat—the coat, Tom finds, is missing. Nate, like Zack Heckler and Chris Morris, was aware that Eric and Dylan were building pipe bombs in the months leading up to the attack, and also noticed that both had been cutting school and sleeping in class, but had no idea that the two of them had been planning anything so drastic.
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Nate Dykeman Character Timeline in Columbine

The timeline below shows where the character Nate Dykeman appears in Columbine. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 4: Rock ’n’ Bowl
Violence and Spectacle Theme Icon
Failure Theme Icon
Eric and Dylan’s friends Chris Morris, Nate Dykeman , and Zack Heckler have all worked at Blackjack before—it pays decently and offers the... (full context)
Chapter 12: The Perimeter
Violence and Spectacle Theme Icon
Memory, Bearing Witness, Trauma, and Testimony Theme Icon
Failure Theme Icon
As students begin returning from lunch, they find their school barricaded. Nate Dykeman , who had gone home for lunch, returns to campus, sees the mayhem, and begins... (full context)
Chapter 13: “1 Bleeding to Death”
Violence and Spectacle Theme Icon
Memory, Bearing Witness, Trauma, and Testimony Theme Icon
A “terrified” Nate Dykeman breaks down and calls the Klebold residence. Dylan’s father Tom picks up, and assures Nate... (full context)
Chapter 35: Arrest
Violence and Spectacle Theme Icon
Memory, Bearing Witness, Trauma, and Testimony Theme Icon
The boys have begun setting off pipe bombs, and brag to their friend Nate Dykeman about their success. They bring Nate along on Super Bowl Sunday to show him a... (full context)
Chapter 50: The Basement Tapes
Violence and Spectacle Theme Icon
Memory, Bearing Witness, Trauma, and Testimony Theme Icon
Failure Theme Icon
...that they have guns, too. Chris notices Eric growing more aggressive, and the boys’ friend Nate Dykeman notices that they are cutting classes and acting “secretive.” Neither Chris nor Nate say anything... (full context)