Character Analysis: Who Was Anise? Nicolle Monreal 11th Grade

In the contemporary novel When The Killing’s Done by T.C. Boyle, the secondary character Anise is an animal-loving singer who is dating the leader of an unethical organization called FPA, Dave LaJoy, she often helps his organization and consequently dies. Though her actions are misled, her intentions are well founded in the morals she gained as a young child that have shaped her as a character. Through the character of Anise, T.C. Boyle comments on good but misguided actions by presenting her childhood trauma, veganism, and the finding of her body as points of empathizing with Anise and understanding that although her actions were imperfect her intentions are genuinely good.

During her childhood Anise lived on Santa Cruz Island, with her mother and many sheep ranchers in Scorpion Ranch. During her time living there Anise develops a love for animals and this love is what drives her to want to protect all living things later in the novel. When the lambs are attacked by the ravens she is devastated and very affected. As Anise was holding one of the dying lambs, ”I can’t,” she cried, her voice cracking, “I can’t,” and Rita saw that the lamb in her arms was bloodied”(164). This traumatic incident impacts how Anise perceives things...