Prue Leseur Character Analysis in Don’t Call Me Ishmael

Prue is Ishmael’s little sister and Mom and Dad’s daughter. Ishmael describes her as a genius, or almost a genius, and many consider her to be “adorable.” For the most part, Ishmael has made peace with the fact that he’s never going to be able to outshine his sister. But she does occasionally cause him problems, as when her extensive project of turning pegs (clothespins) into influential historical figures humiliates Ishmael at a debate. (The peg person version of Ringo Starr accidentally gets stuck in Ishmael’s pants and falls out his pant leg while he’s speaking).

Prue Leseur Character Timeline in Don’t Call Me Ishmael

The timeline below shows where the character Prue Leseur appears in Don’t Call Me Ishmael. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

None of Ishmael’s family members—Dad, Mom, or his sister Prue—suffer from the syndrome. Prue, in fact, is “adorable” and almost a genius. So Ishmael’s name... (full context)

...of paper asking for five “amazing” facts from each student. Ishmael’s five facts are that Prue is a genius, Dad played in a band, Mom is on the city council, Ishmael... (full context)

...might even be a possible love interest. Mom and Dad even notice the change, and Prue is impressed. This is a real compliment coming from her, since she regularly steals the... (full context)

To demonstrate how Prue does this, Ishmael tells the story of “the Clash of the Peg People.” In Year... (full context)

When Prue got to Year One, she of course took things a step further. She made 10... (full context)

...Beatle (though Dad would choose any Beatle but Ringo). This doesn’t make Ishmael feel better. Prue later suggests it would’ve been better had Sigmund Freud fallen out of Ishmael’s pants, because... (full context)

...next day, during the lunchtime debating meeting, Ishmael wearily tries to explain to Razza about Prue’s peg people. Scobie insists they should get on with the debrief. (There’s nothing to debrief;... (full context)

...the peg person. Ishmael notes that it was Ringo from the Beatles and briefly explains Prue’s influential peg person project. Awkwardly, Kelly tells Ishmael he did well stepping in at the... (full context)

Mom drops Ishmael off on the night of the final school event. Mom, Dad, and Prue can’t come, since Mom has a charity dinner and Prue is sick. So Ishmael enters... (full context)