Rabozzo Character Analysis in The Five People You Meet in Heaven

One of the men in Eddie’s unit during the war. After the members of the unit are kidnapped by the enemy and forced to work in a coalmine, Rabozzo “keeps a poker face” during the days of their captivity, but screams at night. He catches a fever while working in the mine, and when he falls out of weakness, Crazy Two shoots him in front of everyone. To Eddie, Rabozzo’s death signifies the meaninglessness and darkness of the war.

Rabozzo Character Timeline in The Five People You Meet in Heaven

The timeline below shows where the character Rabozzo appears in The Five People You Meet in Heaven. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

The novel flashes back in time. Eddie and his unit—Rabozzo, Morton, Smitty, and the Captain—are in the Philippines and are being held captive by enemy... (full context)

After a few more months, Rabozzo developers a fever and falls down while working in the coalmine. Crazy Two forces him... (full context)

...all of their captors. As Smitty kills the last of the Crazies, he says, “For Rabozzo.” The unit then decides to burn the place down. (full context)

...the last huts, when he sees a small, child-sized shadow moving inside. He thinks of Rabozzo, and of how tired he is of violence and loss. Determined to spare the life... (full context)