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Short Fiction · Character

Professor Micheals

An overworked anthropology professor whose sacred week of doing nothing is ruined by a gray-black object in his ditch that eats spades, dirt, and sunlight.

supporting

Also known as Micheals

First appearance: final examination

As a supporting figure in Short Fiction, Professor Micheals is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Discovers the leech in a ditch during his resting week; attempts to study it and later advises General O'Donnell.
In the storyThe LeechOpen this moment free

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Micheals guards his ten-year custom of a week of absolute rest at his New York State farm, until his hired man Conners shows him a truck-tire-sized thing that sheared two inches off a spade. Prodding it with scientific…

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See Professor Micheals in final examination

Character Web

8 connections

A slice of how Professor Micheals sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

GOGeneral O'Donn…FCFrank ConnersSFSheriff FlynnPCProfessor CarverALAllensonPMProfessor Micheals

Relationship types

  • Other

Character groups

  • Academic and military support
  • Diverse minor and central figures
  • Key narrative figures

+3 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

SetupEscalationAftermathClimax
  • Setup
  • Escalation
  • Breaking point
  • Aftermath
  • Closing

This is the dramatic climax because Morrison reaches the psychological breaking point of his twenty-first day…

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In the story

Professor Micheals appears across 1 companion beat. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for Professor Micheals unlock in the free preview.

See Professor Micheals in final examination