The boy

Outer characterization

The short story “Just Like That” by Michael Richards does not give many details about the boy’s outer characterization. For instance, readers only know about the “soft hair on his legs” (p. 25, l. 14), which suggests the boy’s youth. Readers do not know whether he is related to the man accompanying him or not, how old he is, or what he looks like. 

Inner characterization

The boy’s inner characterization is constructed by following the way he reacts to the hunting trip. From the beginning, the boy seems eager to impress the man who accompanies him. The relationship with the man is unknown, yet readers might assume the man to be the boy’s father or another authority figure.

When the man encourages him to kill a kangaroo, the boy is eager to show he is capable: “ ‘Yes,’ said the boy, ‘I can do it.’ ” (p. 25, l. 6). Throughout the narrative, it is clear that the man is in control and that the boy is obedient, as the boy constantly walks behind the man. The man’s perpetual comment “ ‘Don’t walk behind me’ ” (p. 25, l. 10) also suggests that the boy is in an inferior position and that he has no choice but to follow...