The narrator is the protagonist of the story, which is told from his subjective viewpoint and memory. He is not named in the story and is referred to only as “Brother” by Doodle. The narrator, whom Hurst never physically describes, considers himself “pretty smart at many things” (48), including running, climbing, and jumping. He is six years old when his brother is born, and the main action of the story takes place during the next six years of his life. Through the narrator, Hurst explores the theme of Coming of Age: Pride and Social Acceptance. As the story is told from the perspective of an older, wiser narrator, the events recalled from his childhood often include interpretative glosses that allow the reader to understand the narrator’s feelings about his actions more fully.

The main defining characteristic and downfall of the narrator is his pride, which drives his decisions throughout the narrative. He finds the prospect of having a brother with physical and mental disabilities as “unbearable,” and he admits that his decision to teach Doodle to walk is due to the shame he feels of having a brother with a disability.