I Am the Messenger Character Analysis

Ed Kennedy

Ed Kennedy is the protagonist of the novel. He is a 19-year-old cab driver in a suburban Australian town. He lives alone in a rundown house with his dog and has strained relationships with both… read analysis of Ed Kennedy

The Man with the Cards

The man with the cards is the stranger who sends Ed a series of playing cards with names of those in need. His goal, the reader learns at the end of the novel, is to… read analysis of The Man with the Cards

Marv

Marv is Ed’s friend from childhood. At the beginning of the novel, Ed characterizes Marv as argumentative and stingy. All Marv appears to care about are his savings account, his old rundown car, and… read analysis of Marv

Audrey

Audrey is Ed’s friend and his love interest. She is an underaged cab driver like Ed. She does not allow herself to love anyone because her family was abusive to her as a child… read analysis of Audrey

Dave “Ritchie” Sanchez

Ritchie is Ed’s friend. Ed nicknamed him “Ritchie” because he has a tattoo of Jimi Hendrix that’s so poorly drawn, it looks like Richard Pryor. At the beginning of the novel, Ed characterizes Ritchie… read analysis of Dave “Ritchie” Sanchez

Daryl

Daryl is a hitman whom the man with the cards sends to challenge Ed at different points in Ed’s mission. However, Daryl does not know the identity of the man with the cards and just… read analysis of Daryl

Keith

Along with Daryl, Keith is a hitman whom the man with the cards sends to challenge Ed at different points in Ed’s mission. Keith does not know who the man with the cards is; he… read analysis of Keith

The Young Man in Black

The young man in black is another person the man with the cards sends to guide Ed in his mission. This unnamed character dresses in all black and has yellow-colored eyes. The character is generally… read analysis of The Young Man in Black

Beverly “Ma” Kennedy

Ma is Ed’s mother. She swears constantly, especially in her frequent tirades against Ed. Over the course of the story, she reveals that she is so hostile toward Ed because she is disappointed in… read analysis of Beverly “Ma” Kennedy

Gregor Kennedy

Gregor is Ed’s father, who passes away six months before the beginning of the events of the novel. He is a furniture salesman who dies of liver failure alone in his own moving van… read analysis of Gregor Kennedy

The Edgar Street Man

The Edgar Street man lives at the first address on the first card Ed receives. This man often comes home drunk late at night and rapes his wife, while their daughter, Angelina, cries… read analysis of The Edgar Street Man

The Edgar Street Woman

The Edgar Street woman is the wife of the Edgar Street man and the mother of Angelina. She lives at the first address on the first card Ed receives. Ed witnesses her being raped… read analysis of The Edgar Street Woman

Angelina

Angelina is the young daughter of the Edgar Street man and woman. She sits on the front porch of her home and cries while her father repeatedly rapes her mother. Ed speaks to her… read analysis of Angelina

Milla Johnson

Milla Johnson is the elderly woman who lives at the second address written on the Ace of Diamonds. She suffers from memory loss and confuses Ed with her late husband, Jimmy, who died in… read analysis of Milla Johnson

Sophie

Sophie is the teenage girl who lives at the third address on the Ace of Diamonds. She lives in the wealthy part of town and runs barefoot every morning to prepare for her track… read analysis of Sophie

Father Thomas O’Reilly

Father O’Reilly is the first name written on the “stones of home.” He is a priest who lives in the poorest part of town so he can minister to those who need him most. Unlike… read analysis of Father Thomas O’Reilly

Angie Carusso

Angie Carusso is the second name written on the “stones of home.” She works as a pharmacist and is a single mother to three young kids. Ed observes her dedicating her days to her children… read analysis of Angie Carusso

Gavin Rose

Gavin Rose is the third name written on the “stones of home.” He is a teenage delinquent who frequently physically fights with his older brother, Daniel. Ed helps Gavin by beating him up, so… read analysis of Gavin Rose

Daniel Rose

Daniel Rose is Gavin’s older brother. Ed sees Daniel beat Gavin up on their front lawn one night. When Ed assaults Gavin, Daniel comes to his younger brother’s rescue and later helps him exact… read analysis of Daniel Rose

Lua Tatupu

Lua Tatupu is the first person Ed helps for the Ace of Spades. Lua’s family is Polynesian and lives in the poor part of town. Physically, he is very large and strong. Lua is… read analysis of Lua Tatupu

Marie Tatupu

Marie Tatupu is the wife of Lua and the mother of Jessie and his four siblings. She is immediately welcoming and generous toward Ed even though he is a stranger to her. When she and… read analysis of Marie Tatupu

Bernie Price

Bernie Price is the third person Ed helps for the Ace of Spades. He is an elderly man who owns an old theater that shows classic movies. He rarely has customers and frequently sleeps… read analysis of Bernie Price

The Bank Robber

The bank robber holds up the bank with Ed and his friends in it at the beginning of the novel. He has red hair and, according to Ed, is extremely ugly. Ed commits a seemingly… read analysis of The Bank Robber

Tony O’Reilly

Tony O’Reilly is the brother of Father Thomas O’Reilly. Tony lives in the wealthy part of town and has two sons. He is estranged from his brother for reasons he does not explain but… read analysis of Tony O’Reilly

Suzanne Boyd

Suzanne Boyd is Marv’s ex-girlfriend and the mother of his child, Melinda. She used to sneak out of her house in the poor part of town to be with Marv, but when she… read analysis of Suzanne Boyd

Henry Boyd

Henry Boyd is Suzanne’s father and Melinda’s grandfather. He is strict and has an explosive temper. When Marv attempts to meet Melinda, Henry assaults him. Both Ed and Marv demonstrate their courage by… read analysis of Henry Boyd

Tommy Kennedy

Tommy is Ed’s younger brother. Since they were children, Tommy has seemingly been better than Ed at every activity they undertake. Tommy lives in the city and is studying to become a lawyer. He… read analysis of Tommy Kennedy

Sophie’s Dad

Sophie’s father attends her track meets and watches from the sidelines as she runs. He does not yell and scream at her as she runs like other parents do. He tells her before the… read analysis of Sophie’s Dad

Alice Misha

Alice is a sex worker whom Ed picks up in his cab one night. She is kind to him and tells him to not worry so much. Later, Ed imagines having sex with Alice, showing… read analysis of Alice Misha

Leigh

Leigh is Ed’s older sister. She moved out on her own, unlike Katherine, but now is married and has children as well. She also lives in the city. Like Katherine, her success in… read analysis of Leigh

Minor Characters

The Doorman

The Doorman is Ed’s dog. He is a smelly, 17-year-old mutt who used to belong to Gregor Kennedy. Ed personifies the Doorman and often imagines dialogues between himself and the dog, revealing Ed’s lack of close human relationships. The Doorman enjoys drinking coffee and going on walks with Ed.

Katherine

Katherine is Ed’s eldest sister. She got pregnant as a teenager, a common occurrence in their community, and got married and moved to the city. Her success in having a family and moving to the city contrasts with Ed’s lonely single life in their hometown.

Jessie Tatupu

Jessie is Lua and Marie’s youngest child. He is the one who tells Ed about the Tatupu’s family tradition of hanging up Christmas lights.

Ma’s Date

Ma’s date is an older man whom Ed’s mother eats dinner with at the restaurant on Clown Street. He is well dressed and acts like a gentleman.

Melinda Boyd

Melinda Boyd is Suzanne and Marv’s three-year-old daughter. Marv meets her at the end of the novel.

Ingrid

Ingrid is Tommy’s girlfriend. She is very attractive.

Simon

Simon is Audrey’s boyfriend. She has sex with him but does not love him. Simon senses this and is even jealous of Ed because, though Audrey won’t sleep with Ed, it’s clear that she loves him.

Joe, Graeme, and Joshua

Joe, Graeme, and Joshua are the thugs who hang out on Father O’Reilly’s street and hassle passersby like Ed. Father O’Reilly shows his compassion by befriending these men.

Merv

Merv is the team captain of Ed’s amateur soccer team.

Jay

Jay is the young boy who Ed asks to watch the Doorman. The young woman gives Jay the Ace of Spades to give to Ed.

Reggie

Reggie is the referee of the amateur soccer game. He is perpetually drunk.

The Young Woman

The unnamed young woman gives Jay the Ace of Spades for Ed and then disappears into the crowd at the amateur soccer game.

The Librarian

The librarian is a young man who works at the library where Ed goes to research the Ace of Spades. His attitude toward Ed is generally belittling and facetious.