The Boy

The boy is the protagonist and the narrator of the story. His story takes place in the memories of a man who is reminiscing about a summer during his childhood. The style of the story is such that the plot only follows this character, so he is responsible for the exploration of all of the themes. For example, the boy explores the theme of coming of age through his development from a risk-obsessed child into a more mature, self-aware one. He explores the theme of fantasy through his comparisons between garden tools and sword fights. Finally, he explores the theme of ambition through his continuous desire to increase the duration and distance of his voyages on the flying carpet.

The Boy's Mother

The boy’s mother is a somewhat minor character in the story. Her relationship to her son explores the themes of ambition and coming of...