27 pages • 54 minutes read
Donald BarthelmeA modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
The unnamed narrator of “Some of Us Had Been Threatening Our Friend Colby” is a semi-static character. He is an integral part of the group and its decision-making process. The narrator’s voice is matter-of-fact, reflecting the group’s detachment from the moral implications of their decision to execute Colby by hanging. His calm tone when discussing the plan’s details and his focus on the practical aspects rather than the ethical ones underscore the story’s dark humor and absurdity.
The narrator’s primary role is to relate the story’s events to the reader. While he does not undergo a transformation in the narrative, his attitude and responses to the events offer a critique of Conformity and Groupthink and illustrate the process of Dehumanization and the Erosion of Individuality. His acceptance of the group’s decision and his involvement in the planning process demonstrate the dangers of a herd mentality and the ease with which violent acts can be rationalized and executed under the guise of protocol.
By Donald Barthelme