The Narrator

The narrator is a sad, rather insecure man who is always playing games. He wants to hide his blindness, so he pretends he can see, using his other senses, memory, and logic to project an image of himself he believes will be more pleasing to others. He pretends to look out the window, for instance, and “see” what is going by. By doing so, he hopes that the girl will not realize he is blind. Readers may wonder if the narrator is trying to “hide” his blindness from himself as much as from other people because he does not want to face the fact of it.

The narrator’s deep sadness appears when the girl laughs; despite himself, he cannot join in her merriment. As much as he wants to laugh, even thinking about expressing himself in this way emphasizes his loneliness and distress. Even the girl notices that he is “so serious.” This, too, may be a defense mechanism: The narrator holds back, not allowing himself to feel happiness or joy, as though these emotions might open up something within him that he does not want to confront.

Yet the narrator longs to connect with others—especially with the girl. He thinks he could sit for “almost any length of time, just listening to her talking.” Something in her attracts him; there is a shared connection he does not completely understand. Perhaps if he had realized that she, too, is blind, he would have responded differently and perhaps forged the connection he so desires. Tragically, his insecurity robs him of that chance.

The Girl

Readers only see the unnamed girl through the narrator’s eyes. To him, she seems close to perfect. Right from the beginning, he enjoys the sound of her voice and appreciates her friendly conversation. She is open and pleasant, easy to talk to, and quick to laugh.

Yet there is a deeper side to this girl. When the narrator tells her she has an interesting face, she appreciates the compliment but adds, “I’m tired of people telling me I have a pretty face.” The narrator does not know it, but the girl cannot see her own face, so perhaps she resents compliments about the appearance she will never know. Despite her joking tone, there is just a hint of sharpness in her response.

What is more, the girl does not speak of her blindness. Perhaps she thinks she does not need to, as she assumes the narrator can see. Yet, when he asks her what October is like, she does not answer except to tell him to look out the window. She does not explain her blindness and, moreover, hints that she does not lack sight when she remarks that it “always happens” that the telegraph posts seem to be moving.

Like the narrator, the girl seems to be covering up her true situation. She is adept at handling herself and her possessions, so she must have been blind for some time. Yet, she does not admit it. Perhaps, like the narrator, she longs for a few minutes of “normalcy” with a person who sees her as more than just a blind girl.

The Male Passenger

The male passenger makes only a brief appearance at the end of the story, yet he plays an important role. Readers know little about him except that he is considerate—indicated by the apology he stammers to the girl after apparently bumping into her—-and has a sense of humor—as he jokes with the narrator about being disappointed in his new traveling companion. This man, however, reveals to the narrator that the girl has beautiful eyes that are totally blind. In so doing, he brings the story to its surprising end.