# The Narrator — A Strange Manuscript Found in a Copper Cylinder character guide > The Narrator in A Strange Manuscript Found in a Copper Cylinder by James De Mille. **Role:** major **Also known as:** I, me, mine, myself **First appearance:** 0000-i-the-finding-of-the-copper-cylinder ## Who they are The castaway who opens a barnacled copper cylinder and finds himself living the impossible manuscript inside, narrating his own descent into a world where death is the highest honor. ## In the story ### [III: A World of Fire and Desolation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_strange_manuscript_found_in_a_copper_cylinder_se/chapters/iii-a-world-of-fire-and-desolation) Describes the volcanic landscape, discovers the dead sailor's letter, and participates in the burial. ### [IV: The Sight of Human Beings](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_strange_manuscript_found_in_a_copper_cylinder_se/chapters/iv-the-sight-of-human-beings) Describes the horrifying appearance of the natives, resists landing, and ultimately flees after Agnew is killed. ### [V: The Torrent Sweeping Under the Mountains](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_strange_manuscript_found_in_a_copper_cylinder_se/chapters/v-the-torrent-sweeping-under-the-mountains) Drifts alone in a boat through a narrowing channel into a subterranean cavern, facing despair and a monstrous creature. ### [VI: The New World](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_strange_manuscript_found_in_a_copper_cylinder_se/chapters/vi-the-new-world) Awakens from a nightmare, decides to trust the strange people, and is rescued and transported through the new land. ### [VIII: The Cave-Dwellers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_strange_manuscript_found_in_a_copper_cylinder_se/chapters/viii-the-cave-dwellers) Explores the caverns, meets Almah, begins learning the Kosekin language, and records words in his memorandum-book. ### [IX: The Cavern of the Dead](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_strange_manuscript_found_in_a_copper_cylinder_se/chapters/ix-the-cavern-of-the-dead) Explores the city, learns the language, and accompanies Almah to the Cavern of the Dead, where he helps with her grim task. ### [X: The Sacred Hunt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_strange_manuscript_found_in_a_copper_cylinder_se/chapters/x-the-sacred-hunt) Participates in the sacred hunt, kills the monster with his rifle, and is horrified by the Kosekin's mercy killings. ### [XI: The Swamp Monster](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_strange_manuscript_found_in_a_copper_cylinder_se/chapters/xi-the-swamp-monster) Participates in the sacred hunt, rides an opmahera, and later attempts to escape with Almah. ### [XII: The Baleful Sacrifice](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_strange_manuscript_found_in_a_copper_cylinder_se/chapters/xii-the-baleful-sacrifice) Horrified by the sacrifice, he struggles to endure and seeks comfort in music. ### [XIII: The Awful Mista Kosek](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_strange_manuscript_found_in_a_copper_cylinder_se/chapters/xiii-the-awful-mista-kosek) Witnesses the Mista Kosek preparations and faints from horror; struggles to understand the Kosekin's dual nature. ### [XIV: I Learn My Doom](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_strange_manuscript_found_in_a_copper_cylinder_se/chapters/xiv-i-learn-my-doom) Learns of his and Almah's doom; realizes his love for her during her illness; struggles with horror and hope. ### [The Kohen Is Inexorable](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_strange_manuscript_found_in_a_copper_cylinder_se/chapters/xv-the-kohen-is-inexorable) Desperately pleads with the Kohen for help to die, expressing horror at the Kosekin's inverted values and struggling to comprehend their worldview. ### [XVI: The Kosekin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_strange_manuscript_found_in_a_copper_cylinder_se/chapters/xvi-the-kosekin) The narrator observes and explains the Kosekin customs, noting his own ignorance of their values. ### [XVIII: A Voyage Over the Pole](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_strange_manuscript_found_in_a_copper_cylinder_se/chapters/xviii-a-voyage-over-the-pole) Reflects on his love for Almah and his willingness to die for her; observes Kosekin customs with wonder and horror. ### [XIX: The Wonders of the Amir](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_strange_manuscript_found_in_a_copper_cylinder_se/chapters/xix-the-wonders-of-the-amir) Describes his arrival at the Amir, his meetings with the Kohen Gadol and Layelah, and his hope in finding selfishness among the Kosekin. ### [XX: The Dark Maiden Layelah](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_strange_manuscript_found_in_a_copper_cylinder_se/chapters/xx-the-dark-maiden-layelah) Struggles with Layelah's advances and Kosekin customs, reaffirms his love for Almah, and refuses to save himself without her. ### [XXI: The Flying Monster](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_strange_manuscript_found_in_a_copper_cylinder_se/chapters/xxi-the-flying-monster) Plans escape using the athaleb, torn between love for Almah and Layelah's offer. ### [Escape](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_strange_manuscript_found_in_a_copper_cylinder_se/chapters/xxii-escape) Plans the escape with Almah, resists Layelah's advances, and pilots the athaleb. ### [XXIII: The Island of Fire](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_strange_manuscript_found_in_a_copper_cylinder_se/chapters/xxiii-the-island-of-fire) Leads the exploration of Magones, finds food and water, and grapples with hopelessness about their future. ### [XXIV: Recapture](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_strange_manuscript_found_in_a_copper_cylinder_se/chapters/xxiv-recapture) Refuses to abandon Almah despite Layelah's persuasion; threatens to destroy the athaleb; comforts Layelah in her distress. ### [Falling, Like Icarus, Into the Sea](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_strange_manuscript_found_in_a_copper_cylinder_se/chapters/xxv-falling-like-icarus-into-the-sea) Floats on the athaleb with Layelah, contemplates death and Almah's safety, builds a fire on the island, and is rescued by Almah. ### [XXVIII: In Prison](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_strange_manuscript_found_in_a_copper_cylinder_se/chapters/xxviii-in-prison) Imprisoned and separated from Almah, he endures the squalor and horror of the paupers' company, grappling with despair. ### [XXIX: The Ceremony of Separation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_strange_manuscript_found_in_a_copper_cylinder_se/chapters/xxix-the-ceremony-of-separation) Imprisoned and despairing, he endures the ceremony of separation from Almah, hoping it might save their lives, but learns they are still to be sacrificed. ### [XXX: The Day of Sacrifice](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_strange_manuscript_found_in_a_copper_cylinder_se/chapters/xxx-the-day-of-sacrifice) The narrator is the sacrificial victim who shoots the hag and is then revered as a divine figure. ### [XXXI: Conclusion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_strange_manuscript_found_in_a_copper_cylinder_se/chapters/xxxi-conclusion) Rejoices in the sunlight and learns he was unknowingly married to Almah. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_strange_manuscript_found_in_a_copper_cylinder_se/characters/unknown_narrator - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_strange_manuscript_found_in_a_copper_cylinder_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_strange_manuscript_found_in_a_copper_cylinder_se/characters