Another by Paul Tremblay Summary, Characters and Themes

Another by Paul Tremblay is a psychological horror novel that explores themes of identity, alienation, and the fragility of reality.  The story follows a twelve-year-old boy named Casey Wilson, who finds himself in a bizarre situation when a strange visitor named Morel arrives at his home.

Morel, a mannequin-like figure who communicates without words, causes unease as his behavior becomes increasingly erratic.  As Casey grapples with the unsettling presence of Morel and the inexplicable occurrences surrounding him, he begins to question his own sense of reality and whether he is losing his identity. This haunting narrative delves into the tension between the ordinary and the strange, creating an atmosphere of constant unease.

Summary

Casey Wilson, a twelve-year-old boy, lives in a world that feels increasingly unfamiliar to him.  One day, his parents introduce him to an old rotary phone in the kitchen, which they explain works even though it’s disconnected.

The phone mysteriously rings one day, and Casey’s mother answers it, speaking to someone about arranging a visit.  The call seems odd to Casey, especially since there is no follow-up communication through any other means.

His curiosity intensifies when the caller, who turns out to be the father of one of his friends, arranges for a visit to their house.

Casey’s thoughts then turn to an earlier time when he was humiliated during the Zoom Incident at school.  His classmate Dillon had recorded a video of Casey’s facial tics and turned it into a viral post.

This caused a rift in his friendship with Jon and Maurice, and Casey felt abandoned as his friends stopped messaging him.

Soon after the phone call, Casey’s parents announce that a visitor named Morel will be staying with them.  Morel, a strange figure who appears almost mannequin-like, is introduced as a new friend for Casey.

Morel’s body is smooth and made of clay-like material, and his facial features are rudimentary.  His inability to speak, his strange gestures, and his odd behavior unsettle Casey, but Casey agrees to spend time with him.

Despite Morel’s inability to eat or sleep, and the discomfort his presence causes, Casey’s parents remain disturbingly indifferent to the situation, treating Morel as if he is just another guest in their home.

As time goes on, Morel begins to exhibit even more unsettling behavior.  His face begins to change, moving in a way it hadn’t before.

His body becomes more lifelike, blurring the lines between human and mannequin.  At one point, Morel opens his chest to reveal a compartment where he keeps drawings that Casey has made.

Morel encourages Casey to draw a heart, which he then places inside his chest like a treasure.  The increasingly surreal nature of Morel’s actions leaves Casey feeling uneasy and confused.

The oddness continues to grow as Casey’s parents seem more fascinated by Morel.  They bond with him over trivial things, and their treatment of him is overly enthusiastic.

Casey feels more and more alienated as his parents grow distant, and his discomfort grows when Morel starts to mimic his actions.  The situation escalates when Casey’s sister, Ally, also shows indifference toward Morel’s strange behavior.

As Casey’s emotional state deteriorates, he struggles to make sense of what is happening around him.

One morning, Morel’s voice emerges, and it is strangely familiar to Casey.  Morel reveals that he has always been able to speak, but only recently learned how.

This revelation further disturbs Casey, and the strangeness of Morel’s presence only intensifies.  As time passes, Morel becomes more integrated into Casey’s life, and the boundary between reality and the bizarre world surrounding him starts to blur.

Casey finds solace in drawing, as it gives him a sense of control over his life, but he is still haunted by his suspicions about Morel’s true nature.

Casey’s fears intensify when he realizes that Morel seems to take on characteristics that mirror his own.  Morel’s behavior and mannerisms become more like Casey’s, and Casey begins to wonder if Morel is somehow connected to him.

This idea is reinforced when Casey notices that Morel’s features shift and his voice becomes even more similar to his own.  Disturbed, Casey investigates Morel’s origins and discovers that the name “Morel” is also the name of a type of mushroom, further unsettling him.

Despite his growing unease, Casey’s parents remain oblivious to the oddness of the situation.  They continue to treat Morel as a special guest, and Casey feels more isolated than ever.

His emotional breakdown reaches a peak when he confronts his parents, asking when Morel will leave.  They react with confusion, and the conversation is interrupted by an old phone ringing.

Casey’s father answers the call, and the voice on the other end claims to be Morel’s father, though Casey suspects that this is not the case.

As the strange events continue to unfold, Casey becomes more convinced that Morel is not human.  The realization grows when Morel’s behavior becomes more erratic.

One night, after a strange encounter with Morel, Casey retreats to Ally’s room to escape the growing discomfort.  There, he experiences a dream-like state, surrounded by growing roots.

These roots, which seem to intertwine with everything in the room, become overwhelming.  Casey is unable to escape, and he begins to fear that Morel might be controlling his reality.

The situation worsens when Morel, who now seems to be a reflection of Casey, becomes increasingly unsettling.  At breakfast, Morel suggests they do something fun, like climbing a tree, and praises Casey for being “the nicest kid in the world.

” However, Casey’s growing dread intensifies as he notices more peculiarities, such as Morel’s strange interactions with the phone that won’t stop ringing and his parents acting distant.  The more Casey reflects, the more he feels that his sense of self is slipping away.

As the days go by, Casey becomes increasingly tormented by the idea that Morel might be controlling his reality.  His relationship with his parents continues to deteriorate, and he struggles to prove his identity.

Eventually, Casey decides to take matters into his own hands.  He smashes the phone, which he believes has been feeding into the distorted reality.

In doing so, he attempts to break free from the manipulative forces controlling him.

The story ends with Casey regaining some control over his life, though the events remain shrouded in uncertainty.  His parents seem to return to normal, but the memory of the strange events is hazy.

Morel, meanwhile, disappears, leaving behind a trail of questions.  Casey, still uncertain of what truly happened, tries to hold on to his identity, continuing to draw as a way to keep his sense of self intact.

Characters

Casey Wilson

Casey Wilson is the central character of Another by Paul Tremblay, a twelve-year-old boy who finds himself caught in a disturbing and surreal experience.  At the heart of his character is a deep sense of confusion and anxiety, stemming from both his personal history and the strange events that unfold around him.

His past experiences, such as his struggles with online school during the pandemic and the humiliation from his peers, shape much of his emotional state and behavior.  These events contribute to his feelings of alienation, particularly in his relationship with his parents and friends.

His discomfort around Morel, a mysterious guest who stays with his family, grows as he realizes that Morel is not merely an ordinary person but someone—or something—that blurs the line between human and non-human.  Casey’s internal conflict intensifies as Morel’s behavior becomes increasingly erratic, and his attempts to confront his parents are met with indifference or confusion.

This sense of powerlessness makes Casey increasingly isolated, as he grapples with his own identity and the growing realization that his perception of reality is slipping away.  His emotional and mental turmoil is expressed through his artwork, which serves as his last remaining tether to reality and a means of control in the chaotic environment surrounding him.

His development is marked by a journey of self-discovery, where he must navigate not just his discomfort with Morel but also his shifting relationship with himself and his family.

Morel

Morel is the mysterious and unsettling figure that enters Casey’s life in Another.  At first, he appears to be a strange, mannequin-like figure—lifeless, quiet, and enigmatic.

His communication through gestures and written notes only deepens the mystery surrounding him.  As he becomes more integrated into Casey’s life, Morel’s features and behaviors shift, becoming more human-like, yet still disturbingly artificial.

The evolving nature of Morel’s character blurs the boundaries between man and machine, with moments where his actions and appearance mimic Casey’s own behaviors, creating an uncanny and uncomfortable resemblance.  Morel’s lack of speech and strange, almost robotic mannerisms initially make him seem like a bizarre new friend for Casey, but as the story progresses, Morel’s true nature is called into question.

Casey begins to suspect that Morel is not human at all, especially as his behavior becomes increasingly disturbing and he seems to be controlled by some external force.  The revelation that Morel’s name is also associated with a type of mushroom only adds to the eerie mystery surrounding him.

Throughout the story, Morel’s interactions with Casey and his family become increasingly unsettling as he exhibits strange, unpredictable behaviors and seems to be manipulating the reality around him.  Despite being a source of both fascination and fear for Casey, Morel remains an enigmatic figure, whose origins and true intentions are never fully understood, leaving a lingering sense of dread throughout the novel.

Casey’s Parents

Casey’s parents serve as secondary but crucial characters in Another.  Initially, they appear to be well-meaning and supportive, but their treatment of Morel grows increasingly strange and concerning.

As the story progresses, their behavior shifts in a way that further isolates Casey and makes him feel alienated.  They treat Morel with an obsessive affection, giving him attention that Casey desperately craves, yet they remain entirely oblivious to Casey’s discomfort.

This parental indifference to Casey’s concerns is a source of emotional strain for him, as he struggles to express his unease about Morel’s presence.  Their failure to see the abnormality in Morel’s behavior, and their seeming disregard for Casey’s feelings, contribute to his growing sense of isolation.

This dynamic intensifies as Casey tries to confront his parents, only to be met with confusion and anger, which only heightens his frustration and alienation.  The parents’ focus on Morel and their dismissive attitude toward Casey’s growing sense of discomfort reflect a shift in family dynamics, one where Casey’s identity and feelings are increasingly marginalized.

They serve as a source of both tension and helplessness for Casey, reinforcing the novel’s exploration of identity, control, and the search for truth in a world that feels increasingly out of control.

Ally Wilson

Ally, Casey’s sister, plays a minor yet significant role in Another.  Her nonchalant attitude toward the strange events involving Morel contrasts sharply with Casey’s growing anxiety.

While Casey becomes more disturbed by Morel’s behavior and the bizarre changes occurring around him, Ally remains indifferent and unaware of the unsettling atmosphere.  Her casual response to Casey’s concerns further isolates him, as she seems to have accepted the strange situation without question.

This lack of empathy or understanding from Ally deepens Casey’s sense of alienation, as he finds himself alone in his struggle to make sense of the surreal events in their home.  Ally’s role highlights the theme of familial disconnect, as she serves as a reminder of how people around Casey are either unable or unwilling to perceive the same reality that he is experiencing.

Her passive presence contrasts with Casey’s active discomfort, and her detachment underscores the broader theme of isolation that permeates the story.

Dillon

Dillon, a classmate of Casey, is a pivotal character in the backstory of Casey’s emotional struggles.  His role in Casey’s life is mostly seen in the context of the “Zoom Incident,” where Dillon recorded Casey’s facial tics during an online class and turned the footage into a viral post.

This event becomes a major source of humiliation for Casey, leading to his alienation from his friends Jon and Maurice.  Dillon’s actions highlight the cruelty and carelessness of adolescence, contributing to the anxiety and self-doubt that Casey experiences throughout the novel.

While Dillon’s role is brief, his impact on Casey’s emotional state is lasting, as his actions serve as a trigger for Casey’s feelings of inadequacy and social isolation, which are amplified by the surreal and disturbing events that follow.

Themes

Identity and Self-Discovery

In Another, the theme of identity is explored through Casey’s internal conflict and his struggle to maintain a sense of self amidst increasingly bizarre and unsettling events.  From the moment Morel enters his life, Casey begins to feel a growing disconnection between his own reality and the strange occurrences around him.

His journey of self-discovery is complicated by the changes happening in his life, particularly with the introduction of Morel, whose behavior becomes eerily similar to Casey’s own.  This mirroring of his identity raises questions about what makes Casey distinct and how much of his individuality can be shaped or altered by outside forces.

Casey’s sense of self is increasingly threatened as he finds himself alienated from his parents, who seem to focus more on Morel than on him.  The more he attempts to understand the situation, the more his identity seems to blur, especially when Morel starts to mirror his own actions and even takes on his voice.

The unsettling sense that Morel might be a replica or extension of Casey forces him to confront the idea that identity is fragile and susceptible to manipulation.  Through Casey’s experiences, the novel reveals how external influences, whether in the form of a mysterious guest or the disorienting effects of anxiety, can challenge one’s perception of who they truly are.

This theme is also represented by Casey’s reliance on his art as a form of self-expression and control.  When everything around him seems to be falling apart, his drawings become a grounding force, allowing him to express his inner turmoil and maintain a sense of identity.

Art becomes a tool for survival, helping Casey reconnect with his sense of self when his reality is questioned.  The tension between his internal self and the distorted world around him illustrates the complex relationship individuals have with their own identities, particularly when faced with unsettling or disorienting situations.

Alienation and Isolation

The theme of alienation runs deeply throughout Another, as Casey feels increasingly isolated from his family, friends, and even himself.  From the outset, he is depicted as someone already struggling with anxiety and a sense of disconnection, particularly after the Zoom Incident.

His online classmates ridicule him, and his friends, Jon and Maurice, distance themselves.  This initial sense of isolation only deepens as the story progresses.

When Morel arrives in the household, Casey’s sense of alienation grows more pronounced, not only because of Morel’s strange behavior but because of how his parents react to the newcomer.  They seem to accept Morel’s oddities without question, further alienating Casey, who is left feeling invisible and unheard.

Casey’s parents, who are more enamored with Morel, fail to acknowledge his discomfort or validate his feelings, intensifying his isolation.  The emotional distance between him and his parents makes him feel like an outsider in his own home.

His growing sense of alienation is compounded by his belief that Morel is slowly replacing him, acting like an ideal version of himself while Casey’s own reality becomes increasingly warped.  In this sense, the novel delves into the psychological impact of feeling disconnected from those who are supposed to support you, creating a profound sense of loneliness.

The more Casey tries to assert his reality, the more he is met with resistance, both from his parents and Morel, as they continue to deny the strange behavior and dynamics at play.  This emotional and psychological isolation leaves Casey struggling with his sense of self, unsure of where he belongs in the world.

His eventual alienation is not just social but internal, as he begins to question the authenticity of his own experiences.  His journey, marked by a deepening loneliness, reflects the ways in which individuals, particularly those struggling with mental health, can feel lost in a world that seems indifferent to their struggles.

The Nature of Reality

Reality becomes a fluid and malleable concept in Another, as the lines between what is real and what is imagined blur.  From the very beginning, the mysterious ringing of the rotary phone signals the start of a surreal journey where Casey begins to question the nature of the events unfolding around him.

As Morel’s presence grows more pronounced, his behavior and transformation challenge Casey’s understanding of what is real.  Morel’s initial lack of speech, his mannequin-like quality, and his eventual mimicry of Casey’s actions all suggest a deeper, more unsettling reality that Casey cannot fully grasp.

The presence of the phone, an object that seems both out of place and oddly powerful, serves as a symbol of the manipulation of reality.  Throughout the novel, the phone acts as a conduit for strange and disorienting events.

Its mysterious calls, particularly the conversation between Casey’s father and Morel’s supposed “father,” blur the lines between what is real and what is being artificially constructed.  This sense of manipulated reality reaches its peak when Casey finds himself in a dreamlike state, surrounded by roots that seem to take over the environment, making it increasingly difficult for him to distinguish between his waking life and a nightmare.

As Morel becomes more integrated into the family, reality itself seems to distort, with the boundaries between what is happening and what might be imagined becoming impossible to discern.  Casey’s struggle to maintain his sense of identity and reality intensifies as he is caught in a world that seems to shift and change without warning.

The manipulation of his perception, both by the phone and by Morel’s transformation, suggests that reality is not as fixed as we might like to believe.  The novel ultimately raises questions about the nature of perception and the extent to which our reality can be shaped by external influences.

Family Dynamics and Control

Another explores the dynamics within Casey’s family and the control that external forces, represented by Morel, have on them.  At the heart of the story is Casey’s strained relationship with his parents, particularly his growing sense of disconnection from them as they become more involved with Morel.

This shift in family dynamics is significant, as it highlights the ways in which control can manifest in subtle, almost imperceptible ways.  The arrival of Morel disrupts the family structure, with Casey’s parents becoming more fixated on him than on their own son.

They treat Morel with an almost reverential quality, dismissing Casey’s discomfort as if it were insignificant.

This shift in attention is not only emotionally alienating for Casey but also highlights a deeper theme of control.  Morel’s presence acts as a catalyst for Casey’s growing realization that his parents are no longer the nurturing figures they once were.

Instead, they seem to be under the influence of something more powerful, possibly Morel himself or the forces controlling him.  As the days go by, it becomes clear that Morel’s influence is gradually replacing Casey’s position within the family.

This manipulation by Morel, and the failure of his parents to recognize or intervene in the situation, emphasizes the way control can be exercised over individuals without them realizing it.

At the same time, the family’s failure to acknowledge Casey’s feelings of discomfort and alienation showcases how control can also be exercised through neglect.  The emotional manipulation that Casey experiences, particularly in how his parents prioritize Morel’s well-being over his own, reveals how family dynamics can shift when outside forces exert control.

This theme explores the subtle ways in which authority figures—whether parents, friends, or other influential figures—can unintentionally or deliberately control and manipulate others, often leading to feelings of confusion, frustration, and helplessness.