Protagonist (Pastoralia)

The unnamed protagonist of “Pastoralia” is a man who makes a living portraying a caveman in a live exhibit. The exhibit is part of a larger entertainment complex. The protagonist loyally follows all the rules and guidelines of his workplace, as he desperately needs the money from his job. His son, Nelson, has a painful illness that is expensive to treat and only seems to be worsening with time. The protagonist resides in a room that is connected to the exhibit room, and he communicates with his wife Louise via fax machine.

The protagonist is often frustrated with his worker, Janet, who often breaks the rules and guidelines of her position. Janet plays the other caveperson in the exhibit. However, the protagonist feels compelled not to report Janet to management, as he knows that Janet also greatly needs the money from the job. Thus, the protagonist feels...