Things We Didn’t See Coming Character Analysis

The Narrator

The unnamed narrator is the only character who appears in all of the novel’s interlocking stories, surviving (and sometimes thriving) as a variety of crises are thrown at him. At an early age, the narrator… read analysis of The Narrator

Margo

Margo is the narrator’s on-again-off-again girlfriend, whom he meets when both are stealing jewelry from an abandoned store. Like the narrator, Margo is flexible, adaptive, and able to survive even under extreme duress. Unlike… read analysis of Margo

Dad

Dad, whose first name is Otis, is the narrator’s father and Cate’s former husband. Dad is a paranoid survivalist; even before any of the real crises of the novel have begun, Dad is… read analysis of Dad

Cate

Cate is the narrator’s mother, and the daughter of Grandma and Grandpa. When the novel begins, Cate is married to Dad, though she is disturbed by his paranoia around the Y2K scare… read analysis of Cate

Grandpa

Grandpa is Grandma’s husband, Cate’s father, and the narrator’s grandfather. Unlike the narrator’s Dad, Grandpa prides himself on rational calm; Grandpa likes to say that “everything will be fine until it’s… read analysis of Grandpa

Grandma

Grandma is Grandpa’s wife, Cate’s mother, and the narrator’s grandmother; she is also Dad’s mother-in-law, though she is skeptical of Dad’s catastrophism. As a longtime public-school teacher, Grandma feels passionately that… read analysis of Grandma

Jeph

Jeph is a 14-year-old boy, and the only surviving child in a rural community dedicated to natural healing. When the narrator first enters Jeph’s community, Jeph is newly orphaned, having lost his parents in quick… read analysis of Jeph

Juliet

Juliet is a wealthy heiress and a prominent Senator, responsible for representing nearly a third of her unnamed nation. Juliet came to prominence by arguing for urban-rural reconciliation, “peace,” and the end of the Barricades… read analysis of Juliet

Shane

Shane is one of Margo’s lovers, and the man she temporarily leaves the narrator for. Shane works in the Rescue unit of the government (Central), and he is easy-going and calm where… read analysis of Shane

Liz

Liz is Jenna’s mother and one of the two women that the narrator encounters during a bad flood. Liz comes from privilege, but she winds up sheltering with her daughter in someone else’s abandoned… read analysis of Liz

Jenna

Jenna is Liz’s daughter and one of the two women that the narrator encounters during a bad flood. Though Jenna understands that her mother is a liability, she does not want to leave her… read analysis of Jenna

Karuna

Karuna is the primary interviewer the narrator encounters when he applies for a job in the new government. Outwardly, Karuna seems emotional, volatile, and inappropriate, confessing past traumas to the narrator and admitting that she… read analysis of Karuna

The Psych Doctor

The psych doctor is one of the narrator’s colleagues in Brownlee, when the narrator works in the Verification unit of the government (Central). Since the psych doctor is assigned to deal with… read analysis of The Psych Doctor

The Sick Man

The sick man is one of many victims of a deadly flu epidemic. He and the narrator meet when the sick man stumbles on the camp the narrator shares with Margo; the sick man… read analysis of The Sick Man

The Nurse

The nurse works with the narrator to lead tour groups filled with wealthy, dying adventurers; her job is to provide the medications, treated air, and immunized water that allow the tourists to survive their trip… read analysis of The Nurse

Anthony

Anthony is a member of the narrator’s tour group—and notably, he is one of the only tourists who has lived long enough to go on more than one expedition. Anthony is kind and patient… read analysis of Anthony

Minor Characters

Francis

Francis is one of the narrator’s interviewers when he applies for a job in the new government. Like his colleague Jeannie, Francis is an “old-school military type.” Francis is impressed by the narrator’s balance of criminal activity and responsible citizenship.

Jeannie

Jeannie is one of the narrator’s interviewers when he applies for a job in the new government. Like her colleague Francis, Jeannie is an “old-school military type”—though her seeming sternness is undercut by her admiration of the narrator’s criminal habits.

Milo

Milo is a 12-year-old boy who lives in the narrator’s childhood neighborhood. Unlike Dad, Milo’s family is unconcerned about the impending Y2K scare (in fact, Milo’s computer scientist grandfather stands to profit from it). Milo’s eagerness and competitive nature frequently rub the narrator the wrong way.