Compare and contrast the characters, Linda and Lily, from the novel, History of Wolves.

Throughout History of Wolves, the author uses Linda's observations about the similarities and differences of characters to herself in order to help readers better understand Linda's character,as she uses her observances of others to try and better understand herself.

Linda and Lily attended the same school, but had little in common other than that. Linda believed that Lily was pretty and Lily had more friends than Linda. They did not interact, either in school or outside, but Linda felt a bond that she was never able to explain. Linda quickly noticed that Mr. Grierson was paying attention to Lily. She correctly assumed there was a sexual level to his interest and she kissed him when they were alone together one evening. He did not respond to the kiss. Though he had dismissed Linda's overture, it was later evident that he had sex with Lily.

Linda identified with Lily on other levels. One day, she felt a strong connection when she and Lily looked at each other in a mirror at school. Linda had planned to give Lily a letter that Linda pretended Mr. Grierson wrote, but she did not. However, in the following years, she imagined the scene as if she did give Lily the letter. In those scenes, Linda imagined Lily in a canoe, but then Linda became Lily. That indicates another level of connection between Linda and Lily, though Linda never explores the reason for it. One explanation is that Lily is actually Linda's alter ego, and does not exist except in Linda's mind.