Bullet in the Brain

6) Anders is portrayed throughout the story as an arrogant and cynical middle aged man. He is sarcastic and frustrating throughout the story, until the final events climax and the reader gets a sense of him as a true character. Through Wolff's narration, the reader finds out about the life of Anders and we learn what is important to him, what has hurt and disturbed him, and finally; what moment he remembers with joy before his last one. He thinks back to a time of boyhood, which promotes imagery of purity, curiosity and excitement. He does not think of the things he once loved (his wife, his job, his child) but of a time when he was alone in a field full of boys, focusing on a trivial few words stated by one of his friends.

During the playing of these flashbacks Anders becomes relatable. We begin to understand the reasons for his jaded attitude which causes the reader to feel sympathy, or possibly empathy, while he is dying. Although the reader cannot feel empathy for Anders' actual death, one can understand how a love can die and how a child can disappoint, and the very real human feelings of disdain for your family that are not generally discussed in society. Having to live with the people you have grown tired or indifferent to would be extremely trying, especially when they are supposed to be of upmost importance to you. It is an uneasy feeling the reader gets from making these relations and it causes a desire to dislike Anders, but by the end of the story the reader feels sorry for him, and also may be thinking of what seemingly trivial moment they might think of right before death.