I'm Thinking of Ending Things

As a character in Jake’s writing and thus a figment of his identity, the protagonist is the main narrator in the novel. However, she is unreliable since all her thoughts and actions are determined by Jake’s writing. Her decision on whether to end things is presented as the last step Jake must take before taking his own life. The protagonist’s decision whether to end things with young Jake is a metaphorical decision for whether Jake should end his own life.

The protagonist is characterized as intelligent and solitary. She is described as shorter than Jake, but whenever she recognizes herself in a photo, young Jake also recognizes himself. Therefore, her physical appearance is intertwined with his and not individual. She was once a student, but what she currently does for work is not mentioned. She shares many characteristics with Jake, including lactose intolerance.

The protagonist is obsessed with the direction her relationship with young Jake is going as she considers whether to end things and return to a solitary life. Even though she believes her connection with Jake is rare (20), the protagonist struggles to find a reason for the relationship to last. She believes being alone allows one to truly develop one’s identity without outside influences (71) and considers marriage a sacrifice of the self.