The Half Brother: Analysis of Major Characters

Author: Lars Saabye Christensen

First published: 2001 (English translation, 2003)

Genre: Novel

Locale: Oslo, Norway; Italy; Berlin

Plot: Saga

Time: 1945–80s

Barnum Nilsen, the son of Vera and Arnold Nilsen. A small, slight boy with golden curls, Barnum is a dreamer who frequently feels lonely and out of place as he grows up in the shadow of his older half brother, Fred. Barnum discovers a love of film and writing at a young age and, with support from his friend Peder Miil, becomes a full-time screenwriter, achieving some successes at writing dark and surreal film scripts based on events from his childhood. As Barnum continuously struggles to write meaningfully about Fred and his family, he becomes more and more reliant on alcohol, which ultimately damages his relationships with family and friends.

Fred Jebsen, the son of Vera Jebsen and an unknown rapist. Physically strong but struggling with dyslexia, Fred is often angry, difficult, and silent. He hates his stepfather, Arnold Nilsen, and plots his death. He alternately bullies and protects his younger half brother Barnum. Fred becomes a serious boxer but quits the sport after his first match. He frequently leaves home for days at a time and finally goes to sea and is absent for so long that his family holds a memorial service for him. He returns years later.

Vera Jebsen, the illegitimate daughter of Boletta Jebsen. Young, vivacious, and looking forward to celebrating the end of the World War II, Vera is raped on VE Day and remains completely silent until the birth of her son Fred. Carrying the stigma of raising a child without a father, Vera, who never knew her own father, is fiercely proud and somewhat stand-offish. She marries Arnold Nilsen, who makes her laugh, and then gives birth to Barnum. Vera loves her sons and feels acute worry when Fred is absent for long periods.

Boletta Jebsen, the illegitimate daughter of the Old One and mother of Vera. Boletta, a strong woman with broad hips, is fond of drinking, enjoys dancing, and never reveals the identity of Vera's father. She works as a switchboard operator at the Telegraph Exchange but is not close to the other women who work there. After the death of the Old One, Boletta begins frequenting the bar the North Pole, where she drinks heavily and dances.

Ellen Jebsen, “the Old One,” Vera's grandmother and Boletta's mother. An old woman with long gray hair and a strong personality, Ellen was a beauty in her youth when she fell in love with Wilhelm, a mariner who was lost in an expedition to Greenland. After the birth of her daughter, Boletta, she became a silent-film actress. Ellen is sharp-tongued, accustomed to loss, and protective of her family. She feels a strong allegiance to King Haakon, who came to Norway from Denmark like herself, and she ultimately dies on the same day as the king.

Arnold Nilsen, Vera's husband and Barnum's father. A fat, small-statured misfit from the island of Røst, Arnold is missing the fingers on his right hand and wears a glove to hide the disfigurement. He has a zeal for life and new inventions. He has traveled widely, spending time as a circus performer before marrying Vera and settling in Oslo. He is evasive as to what he does for a living, but he racks up debts as an often unsuccessful grifter and steals from Vera's family.

Vivian Wie, a close friend of Barnum and Peder Miil. Vivian is attractive and fragile in appearance. Born in the wake of a tragic automobile accident, Vivian helps to hide her mother's facial disfigurement, which leads to her career as a makeup artist. She shares a love of film with Barnum but only enjoys movies with happy endings. Vivian moves into an apartment with Barnum and is looking forward to starting a family, but she moves out shortly after telling Barnum she is pregnant.

Peder Miil, Barnum's best friend. Peder is round and bespectacled. He is highly practical in nature and unflinchingly loyal to Barnum. He is adept at figures, and he studies economics at an American university before returning to Norway to act as Barnum's agent.

Oscar Miil, Peder's father. A seller of rare stamps and a comically bad driver, Oscar is an affectionate father and deeply attached to his wife. He is unwilling to take advantage of the unfortunate and naive. He commits suicide for reasons that are never revealed.

Mrs. Miil, Oscar's wife and Peder's mother. Wheel-chair-bound, with striking auburn hair, she is an artist who spends much time drawing and painting human subjects. She laughs often and has a fear of being photographed.

Dr. Schultz, the Jebsen family's doctor. Gaunt, red-faced, and often drunk, Dr. Schultz looks after Vera after her rape but fails to diagnose her pregnancy.

Mundus, the mustachioed ringleader of the Circus Mundus who values illusion and imagination over truth. He passes his admiration for P. T. Barnum on to Arnold Nilsen during Arnold's time in his circus.

Annie Wie, Vivian's mother. She is a victim of an automobile accident that left her face scarred and mutilated. Annie hides in her darkened apartment, avoids mirrors, and frequently wears a veil.

Aleksander Wie, Vivian's father and Annie's husband. He is haunted by the automobile accident that disfigured his wife and is dissatisfied with their life together.

Evert Nilsen, Arnold Nilsen's father and a fisherman on the island of Røst. A strong and able man, he mourns the fact that Arnold is his only child.

Thomas, the young son of Barnum and Vivian. He resembles Barnum in appearance and is shy with strangers.

Tale, Barnum's schoolmate, a soft-spoken young girl with fair hair and a mole on her left cheek that turns out to be malignant.

Rakel Steiner, a pretty, young Jewish woman and Vera Jebsen's best friend. She is taken from her home in Oslo to the Ravensbrück concentration camp and never returns.