Characters

The main characters in “Just Like That” by Michael Richards are the boy and the man. The readers can assume that the man is either the boy’s father or another figure of authority.

The man is not fully aware of the way in which the hunting trip changes and transforms the boy. The man is more concerned with teaching the boy how to shoot than with the boy’s emotional distress. He does not grasp the growing feeling of resentment that the boy develops towards him.

The ending implies that the boy might have shot the man,  probably as punishment for his cruel behavior towards both him and the animals. His death might also be interpreted as the boy’s wish to become a man, like him. The ending is not explicit, so the boy’s actions and motivations can only be assumed.

You can find the full characterizations of the boy and the man in the next pages.