The man

Outer characterization

Just like in the case of the boy, the short story “Just Like That” by Michael Richards does not provide details when it comes to the man’s outer characterization. We do not know what he looks like, how old he is, or whether he is related to the boy. The only details about his appearance are related to the back of his neck: “He watched the man’s head. He noted the hollow above the collar where the man’s spine joined the base of his skull” (p. 29, ll. 9-10). We also learn that the man is an experienced hunter, but we do not know whether he hunts for a living or just for fun.

Inner characterization

The first thing that readers find out about the man’s inner characterization is that he is cruel and violent. He initially shoots a kangaroo in the back of its neck and takes his time finishing it, which suggests that he enjoys killing animals. His cruelty and lack of empathy are also obvious when he states that he will let the kangaroos rot (p. 26, l. 4), and it becomes clear that he kills the ...