The Bones Beneath My Skin

As the protagonist of The Bones Beneath My Skin, Nate Cartwright is a deeply conflicted character whose journey represents one of profound evolution from isolation to connection. Initially characterized by his isolation and his profession as a disgraced journalist, Nate enters the narrative carrying significant emotional baggage—his sexuality having caused familial rejection and his professional ethics having compromised his career.

Nate’s initial distrust and pragmatism serve as foils to Art’s otherworldly nature and Alex’s protective intensity. Within this framework, his skepticism positions him as the audience’s surrogate, as he processes the extraordinary events of the novel through a lens of initial doubt combined with a wary open-mindedness.

Nate can be characterized as dynamic, given that his transformation toward acceptance of the supernatural accelerates after he learns of Art’s alien identity. Whereas most protagonists might flee from danger, Nate makes the critical choice to remain with Art and Alex despite the risks involved. This decision marks a pivotal moment in which his loyalty to his new friends supersedes perceived his sense of self-preservation, and the narrative suggests that this choice emerges not from heroism but from recognition of his own vulnerabilities.

Nate’s sexuality functions beyond mere

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