The novel’s central character, Roderick is about 17 years old when he commits the triple murder for which he is eventually hung. The nature of his character serves as the book’s central mystery, making it somewhat difficult to know exactly who he is and what motivates him. The lucidity of his account, as well as the testimony of his schoolteacher, suggests that Roderick is exceptionally bright. The question of how to square this intelligence against his grotesque crimes looms large over the entire novel. In many ways he is most accurately characterized by his lack of fixed characteristics. While he depicts himself as shy and aloof, some of his fellow villagers regard him as malicious, predatory, or outright evil.

By his own account, Roderick holds himself apart from his fellow villagers, noting that he “cultivated the very characteristics which set [him] apart” (22) from his peers. However, he also describes himself as a highly sensitive individual, nurturing injured and lost birds and harboring romantic notions of a future with Flora Mackenzie, despite their families’ bitter feud. Whether his inability to communicate these positive sensitive qualities to others is because of an inability to express himself or because he has fabricated them for his

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