Brian Character Analysis in Little Fires Everywhere

Lexie’s boyfriend, also a high school senior. He has his heart set on Princeton; his parents, who he has nicknamed “Cliff and Clair” due to their “Cosbyish vibe,” met at Princeton as undergraduates. Lexie and Brian have sex for the first time on Halloween, and, after that, often sneak off to sleep together. When Lexie becomes pregnant, she fantasizes aloud to Brian about her dreams of having a baby with him, but Brian shuts her down, telling her she’s “crazy” and that he does not want to be “that guy—another black kid [who] knocked up a girl before he even graduated.”

Brian Character Timeline in Little Fires Everywhere

The timeline below shows where the character Brian appears in Little Fires Everywhere. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Identity: Heritage, Assimilation, and Transience Theme Icon

...they are all lucky to live in Shaker Heights where no one “sees” race—Lexie’s boyfriend, Brian, is black, and she says that nobody “gives a crap” about the fact that the... (full context)

Lexie describes her frustration with college applications—her boyfriend Brian is applying to Princeton, where his parents went to school, while Lexie has her heart... (full context)

Lexie is having a great night grinding with Serena on the dance floor. Her boyfriend Brian arrives dressed as “a guy who just mailed his application to Princeton” and the two... (full context)

...not a toy.” After the party, Lexie’s “baby fever” only grows stronger. Trip jokes to Brian, Lexie’s boyfriend, that he had better be careful. (full context)

...Richardson, while Moody and Izzy, inspired by Pearl and Mia, take Bebe’s side. Lexie and Brian also argue amongst themselves about May Ling—Brian’s father has sided with the McCulloughs, but his... (full context)

Lexie and Brian have been having sex as often as they can since Halloween, often at Brian’s house... (full context)

...she’ll be able to keep the baby. After raising the subject of a baby with Brian, talking first about May Ling and then about their own future babies, Brian shuts her... (full context)

...she found condom wrappers, and one afternoon, had arrived at the Richardson house to find Brian’s shoes in the hall. She never wanted to think too hard about what Lexie “nor... (full context)

Lexie is having “romantic troubles of her own.” She has been “skittish” about sleeping with Brian in the wake of her abortion, and has not told him about the procedure. When... (full context)