My Year of Rest and Relaxation Characters

The novel’s unnamed narrator is a woman in her twenties who lives in a luxury apartment in Manhattan. She studied art history in college and worked at a trendy gallery until her boss, Natasha… read analysis of Narrator

Reva is the unnamed narrator’s only friend, though neither of them seem to like each other all that much. Reva is insecure and needy, and she uses her visits to the narrator’s apartment to… read analysis of Reva

Dr. Tuttle is the disreputable psychiatrist whom the narrator enlists to prescribe her the many prescription drugs she requires to carry out her year of hibernation. Dr. Tuttle is eccentric, with an eclectically decorated apartment… read analysis of Dr. Tuttle

Ping Xi is the star artist of Ducat, the gallery the narrator worked at before Natasha fired her. Though not untalented, he cares more about shocking people than making good art, and the narrator finds… read analysis of Ping Xi

The narrator’s mother died prior to the events of the novel. Though the narrator denies that she is grieving her mother, the deep sadness she feels each time her mind drifts toward memories of… read analysis of The Narrator’s Mother

The narrator’s father died of cancer prior to the events of the novel. Though the narrator denies that she is grieving her parents, the deep sadness she feels each time her mind drifts toward… read analysis of The Narrator’s Father

Natasha is the narrator’s former boss at Ducat. She fires the narrator for sleeping on the job and for slacking off in general. Natasha features artists whom she considers “good investment[s],” like Ping Xi… read analysis of Natasha

Ken is Reva’s married boss with whom she is having an affair. He mistreats Reva at work. While Reva claims this is to ward off suspicion of their involvement, the narrator thinks that he… read analysis of Ken