65 pages • 2 hours read
Tahereh MafiShatter Me
Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2011A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Character Analysis
Juliette Ferrars
Juliette is the protagonist and the narrator of Shatter Me. She is 17 years old, and her touch is inexplicably lethal. Because of this abnormality, Juliette’s parents never touched her and isolated her from society, calling her a monster. Unloved and uncared for, Juliette has become a scared, self-loathing, and self-conscious girl, which demonstrates The Impact of Physical and Emotional Isolation. At the beginning of the novel, Juliette is terrified and vulnerable and describes herself as “too petrified too paralyzed too paranoid” (4), yet she already has the ambition to overcome her fear and wants to become “the bird that flies away” (10).
When Juliette arrives at the compounds of Sector 45, she is disgusted by the luxurious living conditions because she perceives them as a theft from the civilian population that is forced to live in poverty. She is not tempted to enjoy the comforts of this life, but instead, she demonstrates her rebellious nature by refusing to accept the fancy dresses and hot meals provided for her. This demonstrates her values and testifies to the fact that she is not willing to put personal comfort over social justice.
Until Juliette met Adam, she had never known what it means to be loved and accepted. Her parents never tried to understand her condition and blamed her for ruining their idea of a perfect family, while her peers either stayed away from her or bullied her. Although these painful experiences could have turned Juliette into a bitter person, she maintains a feeling of compassion toward other people. Kind and understanding, Juliette is always ready to help those in need, and she has a firm sense of loyalty to those few people who are close to her. By the end of the novel, Juliette no longer sees herself as a monster and becomes more self-confident. Eventually, she learns to see her lethal touch as a gift that can be used to help, not hurt, other people and embraces The Importance of Resisting Tyranny.
Adam Kent
Adam is a soldier who started working for The Reestablishment in order to find Juliette. He is 18 years old and is described by Juliette as tall, muscular, smart, and brave, with military tattoos on his arms and a bird tattoo on his chest. Adam has known Juliette since they were children. Although he has never spoken to her, he has always protected her from those who bullied her and felt attracted to her. After Juliette was put into a detention center, Adam became obsessed with the idea of finding her. Caring and loyal, he was the first person to believe that Juliette would never intentionally hurt anyone with her touch. Although Adam grew up with an abusive father, he is very kind and protective, especially of Juliette and his younger brother, James.
Warner
Warner is the leader of Sector 45 and the main antagonist of the novel. He is handsome, with blond hair and green eyes, and despite being only 19, he has a commanding presence. At the beginning of the novel, Warner is presented as a cruel leader, who keeps Sector 45 under strict control and doesn’t value a person’s life. When he meets Juliette, he wants to convince her to join his side by trying to make her believe that she is a monster like him. Although Juliette is disgusted by his brutality and his lifestyle, she has a feeling of kinship toward him, which becomes even stronger when she finds out that he is immune to her touch.
Even though Warner is generally manipulative and self-confident, around Juliette, he shows another side of himself and reveals to her his secret fear of all the soldiers hating him. Throughout the novel, he demonstrates his affection toward Juliette and desperately attempts to win over her loyalty.
James Kent
James is Adam’s little brother. He is 10 years old, friendly, and curious. When he first meets Juliette, he seems a little jealous, but the two soon become friends. James lives in a protected house that Adam set up for him, in a neighborhood where he can go to school with other children. James has a very close relationship with his brother since Adam was the one raising him and protecting him from their cruel father.
Kenji Kishimoto
Kenji, also nicknamed “Moto,” is an Omega Point member who has worked undercover as a soldier in Sector 45. He helps Adam, Juliette, and James flee from Warner and his soldiers and takes them to Omega Point. Although Kenji is often silly, he is very protective of his friends and serious about his duties. Kenji, like Juliette, has a unique ability—he can become invisible, or blend very well with his surroundings.
Castle
Castle is the leader of Omega Point. He is a tall and fit man in his 40s, and his dark eyes emanate humility and kindness. When he speaks to Juliette, his words are respectful and his speech is calm. He is the first one to address her as “Ms. Ferrars” and show her a level of respect and consideration that she has long been craving. Castle, like Juliette and Kenji, also has a unique ability; he has an advanced level of psychokinesis and can move objects with his mind.
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