Story of Your Life Character Analysis

Dr. Louise Banks

Dr. Louise Banks, the first-person narrator, is a linguist recruited by the U.S. military to learn the language of the heptapods, an alien species mysteriously orbiting Earth. An intelligent professional with a wry sense of… read analysis of Dr. Louise Banks

Louise’s Daughter

Dr. Louise Banks and Dr. Gary Donnelly’s daughter is a character foil for Louise. Whereas Louise is academic, risk-averse, and self-reflective, her daughter is money-oriented, daredevilish, and impulsive. Louise and her daughter’s relationship reflects… read analysis of Louise’s Daughter

Dr. Gary Donnelly

Dr. Gary Donnelly is a physicist who collaborates with Dr. Louise Banks in communicating with the heptapods (an alien species) and who eventually becomes her husband. Initially, Gary helps Louise elicit vocabulary from the heptapods… read analysis of Dr. Gary Donnelly

Colonel Weber

A member of the U.S. military, Colonel Weber recruits the linguist Dr. Louise Banks to learn the alien heptapods’ language. Once he has recruited Louise, he oversees the attempts she and Dr. Gary Donnelly make… read analysis of Colonel Weber

Burghart

Like Dr. Louise Banks, Burghart is a linguist assigned to learn the alien heptapods’ language. Also like Louise, he becomes fluent in Heptapod B, begins “remembering” the future, and loses his free will… read analysis of Burghart

Minor Characters

Hossner

Hossner is an employee from the U.S. State Department who lectures Dr. Louise Banks, Dr. Gary Donnelly, and other American researchers on what the U.S. government wants to get out of contact with the alien heptapods. Like Colonel Weber, he models an exploitative and prejudiced attitude toward alien “others.”

Nelson

Nelson is the man Dr. Louise Banks begins dating after her divorce from Dr. Gary Donnelly.

Roxie

Roxie is a friend of Louise’s daughter. She gossips with the daughter about Nelson before he comes to pick Louise up for a date.

Flapper

Flapper is one of the two alien heptapods, along with Raspberry, that teaches Dr. Louise Banks the heptapods’ language. Flapper is not its real name; Louise nicknames it Flapper because she cannot pronounce its real name.

Raspberry

Raspberry is one of the two alien heptapods, along with Flapper, that teaches Dr. Louise Banks the heptapods’ language. Raspberry is not its real name; Louise nicknames it Raspberry because she cannot pronounce its real name.