Inventing Elliot

Elliot’s father, Mr. Sutton, was an optimistic, happy, and hardworking family man before he was robbed and injured. He worked as a design assistant for a company making packaging and was starting his own company when he was attacked and left for dead. He had been a wonderful father to Elliot: inspirational and positive. He used to say that people are capable of anything; it is just a “question of putting your mind to it” (12).

After the attack, Mr. Sutton never recovers and becomes a shell of a man, unable to do anything other than sit silently and watch TV. Rather than have sympathy for his father, Elliot is frustrated by and angry with his father’s seeming inability to “put his mind” towards getting better. This reaction is born out of grief for the father he has lost and points to the fact that his father had been a powerful, positive presence in Elliot’s life.

Elliot’s mother, Mrs. Sutton is a quietly powerful character. She is a loving mother and wife whose world collapses when her husband is attacked. She pivots seamlessly from being an integral part of their happy, active family to holding everything together in the face of unexpected tragedy. Mrs. Sutton becomes the provider for the family, taking a job in a nursing home, looking after her newly disabled husband, trying to support Elliot, and maintaining the house—all of these things, all of the time. Like Elliot, Mrs. Sutton finds the new place a “fresh start” for Elliot, herself, and her husband.

From Elliot’s perspective, his mother is always tired and irritated. Elliot gets a glimpse of her strength and her loneliness when she finally calls out his selfish behavior, “It’s not just you who has a life, you know […] I have stupid hopes and dreams that we might end up with something better than this” (147). Her unconditional love for Elliot and her never-ending support are what allow him to finally accept himself for who he is.

Richard, the antagonist, is the leader of the Guardians, a secret society which controls the Holminster High student body with immense power, generated by fear. Richard is a handsome junior, with wavy dark brown hair, a tanned face and—contrary to school rules—long sideburns. His looks are at odds with his cruel nature. Richard is obsessed with George Orwell’s book, 1984, which he misinterprets and uses as a guidebook for his brutal oppression. He believes that everyone’s position in life is predetermined and people just need to “learn what they already are” (106). He truly believes that he is superior to the students he bullies. His character is consistently arrogant and cruel and he admires indifference in others, seeing emotion as unnecessary.

For Richard, the point of everything is power and control for its own sake. Gardner gives the reader some insight into Richard’s fixation with power: Richard’s father is a man who is happy to be in a subordinate position. Richard despises the way his father brags about “how many feet he’s kissed, how many backsides he’s smooched” (105), unable to understand how his father sees this as a good way to be. This insight underlines Richard’s intrinsically unpleasant character—he is unable to appreciate that his father is happy and looks down on him, misjudging his happiness for weakness. Richard’s arrogance is underscored when he refers to himself as an “expert” at dating. The advice Richard gives Elliot, to make an intimate move, is consistent for a narcissistic misogynist. Unlike Elliot, Richard is a static character and does not change or exhibit redeeming characteristics throughout the book.

Oliver is a student at Holminster High with stylish, short, blond hair, sharp features, and a “friendly but at the same time vaguely sneaky” (26) face. Initially, he seems self-assured and friendly, but in the presence of the Guardians—for whom he is a “runner” and a spy—he is “nervous, anxious to please” (61). His demeanor in front of Richard exposes him as a frightened underling, happy in his subservient role and ready to do anything the Guardians require. Oliver’s attitude towards Elliot transforms when Elliot becomes a Guardian, highlighting Oliver’s willingness to demean himself and that he has fully accepted Richard’s teachings of knowing your place in society.

Mrs. Davidson is Elliot’s English teacher at Holminster High. She is in her thirties, wears glasses, and has long hair tied up in a ponytail. Mrs. Davidson is an enthusiastic and kind teacher who loves her job and cares deeply for her students. She is an empathic character who can sense that there is something deeper going on in Elliot’s life than just being busy. Unfortunately, when Mrs. Davidson articulates her theory that “Everyone puts on their own personal armor before they start the day” (126) it hits too close to home for Elliot, making him suspicious that she knows his secret. Mrs. Davidson’s sensitive and humble nature is exposed when she visibly deflates after Elliot rejects her offer of help. Elliot predicts that after he snubs her, she “wouldn’t act on gut feeling instead of her teacher training. She wouldn’t trust herself not to be “wrong” again” (127).

Louise, a student in Elliot’s English class, is Elliot’s love interest. She is often Elliot’s only source of support and joy. She has long black hair, green, “fierce” eyes, and a spontaneous, charming giggle. The reader meets Louise through Elliot’s eyes, so everything about her—her abrupt mood swings and deep philosophical musings—are portrayed in a loving way. Louise is well-read, articulate, and loves discussing literature, including one of her favorite books, 1984 by George Orwell. With an optimistic and sensitive character, Louise interprets the book differently than Richard. Louise sees the hero setting himself free by following his truth, even though it ultimately destroys him. Louise, like Elliot, has not made a lot of friends. She despises the vicious culture created by the Guardians as well as the girls in the school, who she says are full of “catty gossip and spitefulness” (162).