Characters

The main characters of the short story “A Shot in the Light” by Lion Goodman are the narrator – who is actually Lion Goodman himself – and Ray. Although “A Shot in the Light” is a short story, note that both characters are real, just like the events in which they were involved.

The narrator

The narrator is also the protagonist of the story. From his outer characterization we find out that he was twenty-six-years-old at the time when the events took place (p. 113, l. 24)...

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Inner characterization

His inner characterization reveals that he is kind-hearted, as he immediately helps a man in need:

On the way to Los Angeles from Las Vegas, I stopped to help a motorist whose car had broken down in the Mojave Desert. He was down on his luck, had no plans and nowhere to go, so I let him travel with me. (p. 112, ll. 3-6)

At the same time, he is overly-trustful in his relationship with Ray who is, ultimately, a stranger. His trust makes him take pity on Ray and share his belongings with him:

I felt sorry for him, and in the three days we were together, I grew to trust him. I even started sending him on errands while I visited stores to sell my wares. At one point, I gave him some of my clothes, and it pleased him to have something new to wear. (p. 112, ll. 8-12)

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Ray

Ray is the second main character of the story and can be seen as an antagonist.

Outer characterization

His outer characterization reveals him to be a “motorist whose car had broken down in the Mojave Desert” (p. 112, ll. 4-5). He is in his “early twenties” (p. 112, l. 7) and he is “small, muscular, wiry, and slightly gaunt, as if underfed” (p. 112, l. 8). Later on, we find out more about his background: he comes from a poor family and has problems with drug dealers.

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Inner characterization

Ray’s inner characterization shows him as a deceiving man. Ever since he met the narrator, he planned to kill him, yet he could not find the right moment:

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