The Knife of Never Letting Go Character Analysis

Todd

Todd is the narrator and protagonist of the story. At the beginning, he lives in Prentisstown, a settlement on a planet called the New World, with his adoptive parents Ben and Cillian and his dog… read analysis of Todd

Viola/Girl

Viola, who doesn’t reveal her name at first and is just “the girl” for a while, is Todd’s traveling companion during his journey across the New World to the main settlement of Haven. Viola… read analysis of Viola/Girl

Mayor Prentiss

Mayor Prentiss is the leader of the isolated settlement of Prentisstown and the main villain of the story. Shortly after the founding of a settlement on the New World, Mayor Prentiss uses the settlement’s early… read analysis of Mayor Prentiss

Aaron

Aaron is the preacher in Prentisstown who works closely with Mayor Prentiss to hold control over the settlement’s population. Aaron believes in a fire-and-brimstone style of preaching, and he’s not afraid to get violent, attacking… read analysis of Aaron

Ben

Ben and his partner Cillian become Todd’s parents after the death of Todd’s Ma. Ben is outgoing and was originally a friend of Todd’s Ma from church, back when they both lived in… read analysis of Ben

Cillian

Cillian and his partner Ben become Todd’s parents after the death of Todd’s Ma, which occurred in the uprising in their settlement that Mayor Prentiss led before he was mayor. Todd is initially… read analysis of Cillian

Manchee

Manchee is Todd’s dog. He can talk and communicate through Noise, but he has a limited vocabulary and can mostly only talk about food and people’s names. Manchee is always loyal to Todd… read analysis of Manchee

Ma

Todd knows little about his Ma, who was killed during an uprising that Mayor Prentiss led when Todd was still very young, but Ben gives Todd her journal. In her journal (which Viola reads… read analysis of Ma

Mr. Prentiss Jr.

Mr. Prentiss Jr. is son of Mayor Prentiss and the sheriff of Prentisstown, even though he’s only a little older than Todd. Mr. Prentiss Jr. likes to act tough, but he frequently loses fights… read analysis of Mr. Prentiss Jr.

Doctor Snow

Doctor Snow is the doctor who treats Todd when he gets sick. He has a young son named Jacob. The settlement where Doctor Snow lives is very male-dominated, with women having no role in… read analysis of Doctor Snow

Boy

After Aaron stabs Todd with his own knife (which still has some blood from a Spackle on it), Todd gets sick and seemingly starts to hallucinate. One of the figures he sees is a boy… read analysis of Boy

Minor Characters

Elizabeth

Elizabeth was the mayor of a settlement on the New World called New Elizabeth. When the early years of the settlement were difficult, however, the eventual Mayor Prentiss led an uprising, killing Elizabeth and all the settlement’s other women and renaming the place Prentisstown.

Matthew

Matthew is Elizabeth’s son who distrusts Todd immediately because he comes from Prentisstown. When Todd is alone, Matthew tries to kill him, and it is ambiguous whether Matthew survives when Todd gets away by knocking some debris onto Matthew.

Hildy

Hildy is an older woman who lives with Tam outside of the settlement of Farbranch. she’s Francia’s sister. She is tough but kind and shows Todd and Viola hospitality when they visit her.

Francia

Francia is Hildy’s sister; she lives in Farbranch and serves as deputy mayor. She is less welcoming than her sister but ultimately seems willing to help Todd and Viola.

Tam

Tam is an older man who lives with Hildy outside Farbranch. He is kind and outgoing, but he seems to be one of the first victims when Mayor Prentiss and his army begin their march across the New World.

Jacob

Jacob is the four-year-old son of Dr. Snow. Despite his young age, he is already involved with milking goats.

Wilf

Wilf is a traveler escaping the Prentisstown army who helps Todd and Viola. He helps them get around a large herd of animals that he simply calls “thangs.”

Todd has no memory of his Pa, who died when Todd was still very young.