Bernard's physique was hardly better that that of the average Gamma. He stood eight centimetres short of the standard Alpha height and was slender in proportion. Contact with members of the lower caste always reminded him painfully of this physical inadequacy.Bernard seems to be an antihero. He has a physical defect, and he is shy. He behaves in absurd ways, and he seems to lack courage and self-confidence around those of the his caste. I think this is more effective because the reader can empathize more than if he were a strong character. In this case, his lack of self-consciousness and other heroic qualities is an integral part of the progression of the story as it leads him to question authority and discover secrets of society that have been hidden since the time of "Our Ford". Helmholtz is also an antihero in the sense that he often spends time alone. Unlike Bernard, he has courage and the initiative to discover. Bernard seems to be trapped in an inner conflict, caught between the desire to fit in and the desire to discover what is wrong with the world. Helmholtz is the one who keeps him on the right track. I get the feeling Helmholtz will be a critical character later on in the story.
Until next time,
Alysse
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