The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole 13 3/4 - Character Analysis

Adrian Mole - Book Rags Analysis

Adrian Mole is the main character. Since the novel takes the form of the diary he is writing, we see events through his eyes. From his diary entries we can form a very clear picture of Adrian. He is a kind of anti-hero, someone with flaws that make him seem human and therefore someone with whom we can identify. He dislikes sports, worries constantly about his health and his frequent outbreaks of acne, and believes himself to be an intellectual even though he has trouble keeping up with his schoolwork. He is frequently self-deluded. The poetry and prose he writes is hilariously pretentious. And, in fact, much of the humor of the book is to be found in the gap between Adrian's assessment of events and the reader's perception of them. For instance, he does not realize that his mother is becoming romantically involved with Mr. Lucas.