Skellig Characters

Michael

Michael, a 10-year-old boy, is the protagonist of the story. He deeply cares for his newborn sister, whose critical condition depresses him. Moreover, he is troubled by the recent move to a new house and his discovery of a homeless man in his garage. He finds some distraction at school when he is with his friends. While his academic ability is average, he excels at football, in which context he is a leader. He has a kind heart and nurtures Skellig by bringing him food, beer, and medication, thus ensuring his recovery from arthritis. After meeting Mina, Michael learns to closely observe the things around him and to see the spiritual aspects of the world. He develops a strong bond with her while neglecting his friends at school. In the end, he finds that the events of the story have prepared him to take care of his little sister.

Skellig

Skellig's nature is gradually—but never completely—revealed. In the beginning, he is depicted as a pale, homeless man wearing a filthy black suit, eating flies. He suffers from arthritis, which by now is so severe that he cannot move by himself. At first, he rejects Michael's offer to help and refuses to say his name. He warms up when Michael and Mina bring him to an abandoned house to keep him safe. They also discover his wings, which indicate that he is an angel; however, Skellig never confirms this. He has a close connection to the owls and the spiritual world. The owls feed him, and he uses his newly gained strength to perform magic rituals with the children. Eventually, he revives Michael's sister and thanks the children for their kindness, leaving them feathers as a lucky charm.

Mina

Mina meets Michael soon after he moves into the house next to hers. She is a cheerful girl who always tries to distract Michael or lighten his mood when he is feeling sad. Homeschooled by her mother, she observes the things around her carefully using all her senses, which leads her to a deeper understanding of the world. Her thoughts and ideas are guided by William Blake and his poems, which propagate the freedom of the mind in an environment without constraints. Subsequently, she despises formal schooling because of the faulty curriculum and instruction methods. Mina shows a keen interest in birds, which she considers a symbol of freedom. When she teaches Michael about the spiritual component of the world, she forms a bond with him that eventually becomes so strong that she only has to look at him to know what he is thinking.

Dr. Dan/Dr. Death

Dr. Dan checks up on Michael's sister. Michael calls him "Dr. Death" because of the pale complexion of his skin and the black spots on his hand. Just like the other doctors in the story, he only cares about his patients superficially.

Michael's parents

The names of Michael's parents are not mentioned in the story. They deeply care for Michael, and, just like him, they are troubled because they do not know whether their baby will survive. However, they deal with their emotional stress differently. While Michael's mother tries to find comfort in spirituality, thinking that the baby is an angel who is not quite ready for Earth yet, his father immerses himself in work by renovating the derelict house that they have recently bought. They never give up hope. In the end, Michael's mother dreams of Skellig reviving the baby.

Mrs. Dando

Mrs. Dando is an auxiliary teacher and yard lady who—unlike the other teachers at Michael's school—understands that something is troubling Michael. When Michael stays at home for a few days to help his father around the house, she brings him homework. She has a kind heart, but her efforts to comfort Michael are usually ineffective.

Coot and Leakey

Coot and Leakey are Michael's best friends at school. They are carefree and less mature than Michael. They respect him as a team leader in football and depend on him, but when Michael has a bad day on the football pitch, they attribute his lack of skill to Mina. Subsequently, they tease him about his relationship with the girl. When Leakey sees that Michael is hurt by their bullying, he tries to comfort him. However, neither Leakey nor Coot explicitly apologizes for his rude behavior. Leakey's friendship seems to be more beneficial for Michael, as he is the one teaching Michael how to fold his hands to hoot like an owl, a skill which he later uses to communicate with Mina.

Mr. Stone

The real estate agent.

Mina's Mother

Mrs. McKee is a warm and friendly woman who nourishes her daughter's creativity and intelligence; her husband died some time back, but the details are unclear. She comforts Michael and makes him feel like a part of their household.