Freak the Mighty Characters
The main characters in Freak the Mighty are Max Kane, Kevin Avery, Kenny Kane, and Loretta Lee.
- Max Kane is a troubled kid who witnessed his mother’s murder. Max befriends the physically disabled Kevin, forming one half of “Freak the Mighty.”
- Kevin Avery is a frail boy who has to wear leg braces. Kevin is is the other half of “Freak the Mighty,” and his intellect pairs well with Max’s strength.
- Kenny Kane is Max’s father. Kenny murdered Max’s mother when Max was just a child, and he later kidnaps Max.
- Loretta Lee is the owner of the purse that Max and Kevin retrieve, and she later attempts to help Max when his father kidnaps him.
Character Analysis
Maxwell Kane
Maxwell is called Max by his grandparents. Some people called him Kicker
because of the way he used to lash out when he was upset. Kids have named him
“Maxi Pad,” but Max is happiest when he is Freak the Mighty, a composite
creation made up of himself and Kevin.
When he is alone, as he is when the novel opens, Max is so isolated he barely
knows that he is lonely. This is because of the hard life he has led. Before
Max was born, his mother got involved with Kenny Kane. This isolated her,
because her parents did not approve of Kenny. When Max was four, Kenny killed
Max’s mother. Max tried to stop his father, but his dad, who is both massive
and cruel, put him in a closet.
Physically, Max looks like his dad. He is so large that people fear him, and
sometimes his emotions overwhelm him. Mentally, Max is essentially crippled by
the trauma and isolation that have defined his life, so much so that he ends up
in learning-disabled classes. Emotionally, Max is pure and sweet and rather
young for his age. While it is Kevin who insists the boys go on adventures, it
is Max who is as pure of heart as a knight.
Kevin Avery
Kevin is the opposite of Max in everything except heart. Whereas Max lost a mother, Kevin lost his father, who abandoned his mother when he learned that Kevin had a birth defect. Physically, Kevin is tiny, almost a dwarf. However, mentally, he is as much a giant as Max is a physical giant. Just as his heart is too big for his body in a literal sense (one element of his medical troubles), so his imagination and intellect are too big for his confining body, situation, and social context. He cannot walk unassisted, so he conjures up a dream of being a robot. His body is vulnerable, so he dreams of being a knight on a quest, complete with armor and physical prowess. His crowning moment is when he blends knightly heroism and mental agility in a moment that is pure Freak: when he faces down a murderer with a squirt gun full of pretend acid in order to save his friend Max. Kevin’s body eventually fails him, but like the legend of King Arthur that Kevin shares with Max, Kevin’s story lives on to inspire others.
Kenny Kane
Kenny “Killer” Kane is Max’s father, and although he appears physically in only the final third of the novel, his shadow darkens the entire book. He is the book’s villain, and a genuine one, a threat that makes switchblade-wielding thugs like Tony D. seem harmless. “Killer” Kane embodies the dark side of all the novel’s themes. Instead of helping those he loves, he kills his wife and kidnaps his son. Instead of real change, he offers false change. To support his sense of identity, he lives a world of imagined superiority, sneering at the police, at Max’s grandparents, and at everyone who leads a normal life. Kenny is chilling because he believes so powerfully in his own nightmare world, where every violent act is justified.
Iggy and Loretta Lee
Iggy and Loretta Lee waver between being clichéd characters and being role models for very believable transformation. In doing so, they show how the world shifts for Max as he learns more about it. When he first meets Iggy and Loretta, they are almost cartoonish in their lack of development. Loretta is ratty and Iggy pushy, and both seem more like they are drawn from older pulp novels than from the same level of reality as the other characters. However, like the Arthurian knights that Kevin so loves, these characters too can change. Although they help Kenny kidnap Max at first, later in the novel, they help Max escape. Iggy is humanized by the way he chews on his beard in fear and Loretta by the way she, in the novel’s final pages, comes to care about Max without ceasing to be the chain-smoking heavy drinker she has always been.
Grim and Gram
Grim and Gram, Max’s grandparents, raise him after Max’s mother is killed and his father goes to prison. They are never as flatly drawn as Iggy and Loretta, but Max’s emotional pain flattens them early in the novel. Just as he keeps them at bay physically by living “down under,” so he keeps them distant in the narrative. The first step in this is labeling them “Gram” and “Grim” rather than giving their names. The second is continually recasting their actions in terms of their fear. As the novel progresses, though, Max becomes unable to deny that they love him and are doing their best, and they round into more complex, if troubled, characters.
Expert Q&A
What are two character traits of Maxwell Kane in Freak the Mighty?
Maxwell Kane in Freak the Mighty is characterized by his physical strength and lack of self-confidence. Despite his imposing size, Max is shy, timid, and a loner, lacking the confidence to stand up to bullies. His strength, however, allows him to physically support his friend Kevin, showcasing his loyalty and caring nature as they form the duo known as "Freak the Mighty."
What are some character traits of Gram in Freak the Mighty?
One of Gram's most notable character traits in Freak the Mighty is her nervousness. She seems forever concerned that something bad's going to happen to Max, especially after she finds out that his dad, 'Killer' Kane, has been released from prison on parole.
Kevin's Character, Fears, Bravery, and Fate in Freak the Mighty
In Rodman Philbrick's Freak the Mighty, Kevin, or "Freak," evolves through his friendship with Max, transitioning from initially disdainful to symbiotically supportive. Kevin's intelligence contrasts with his physical limitations, portrayed through his love of reading and imaginative quests, which enhance both boys' lives. Despite his physical condition and looming mortality, Kevin remains fearless, confident, and hopeful, even faking a belief in a future bionic body. His courage and zest for life inspire Max, ultimately leading to Kevin's legacy in Max's writings after Kevin's tragic death at thirteen.
Character relationships and emotions in "Freak the Mighty."
In "Freak the Mighty," the central relationship is between Max and Kevin. Max, who struggles with learning disabilities and low self-esteem, forms a deep bond with Kevin, a brilliant boy with physical disabilities. Their friendship is built on mutual support, emotional growth, and overcoming personal challenges, ultimately allowing them to face their fears together.
Loretta Lee's Character and Development in Freak the Mighty
In Freak the Mighty, Loretta Lee is a dynamic character who evolves significantly. Initially portrayed as a tough and abrasive figure living in a rough neighborhood, she is known for her ragged appearance and harsh demeanor. Despite her initial portrayal, Loretta's bravery shines when she risks her life to save Max from his father, earning her the newspaper title "the Heroic Biker Babe." Her actions reveal a compassionate side, transforming her into a hero by the story's end.
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