# The Narrator — The Coming Race character guide > The Narrator in The Coming Race by Edward Bulwer-Lytton. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Unknown, the stranger **First appearance:** 0001-ii ## Snapshot An unnamed American adventurer who descends into a vast subterranean world and must survive as the lone outsider among a race that wields vril. ## Who they are He enters the Vril-ya commonwealth as a curiosity — a Tish, or inferior being — and narrates everything through the double lens of wonder and dread. His growing conviction that these people could one day destroy the surface world gives his account its anxious, prophetic edge. What keeps him sympathetic is his honesty about his own fear, vanity, and helplessness in a society where he is at once guest, specimen, and potential threat. ## In the story ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_race_se/chapters/i) Introduced as the first-person narrator, an American traveler and adventurer who accompanies the engineer into the mine. ### [Chapter II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_race_se/chapters/ii) Descends into the chasm, survives the fall, and flees from a monstrous reptile. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_race_se/chapters/iii) Explores the subterranean landscape, observing the strange environment and its inhabitants. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_race_se/chapters/iv) Describes his first full sight of the building and the approaching Vril-ya being, feeling awe and terror. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_race_se/chapters/v) Recovers from injury, observes Vril-ya customs, and communicates through drawings. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_race_se/chapters/vi) Awakens from unconsciousness and is astonished to hear his own language spoken by Zee. ### [Chapter VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_race_se/chapters/vii) Pledges secrecy about his world; describes American democracy and New York to the Vril-ya. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_race_se/chapters/viii) Awakens with improved language skills and converses with Taë about the reptile. ### [Chapter IX: The History and Government of the Vril-ya](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_race_se/chapters/ix) The narrator gathers details about the history and social structure of the Vril-ya through conversations and observations. ### [Gender Roles and Marriage Customs Among the Vril-ya](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_race_se/chapters/x) Observes and reports on the gender roles, marriage customs, and social dynamics of the Vril-ya, comparing them to surface societies. ### [Chapter XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_race_se/chapters/xi) Perplexed by the contradiction between geological science and the habitable subterranean world; seeks explanations from Zee. ### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_race_se/chapters/xii) The narrator analyzes the Vril-ya language and its historical development. ### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_race_se/chapters/xiii) Describes the religion and beliefs of the Vril-ya, noting he was not admitted to their temple. ### [Chapter XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_race_se/chapters/xiv) The narrator explains and reflects on the Vril-ya's theological beliefs, connecting them to upper-world philosophy. ### [Chapter XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_race_se/chapters/xv) Adopts Vril-ya dress and visits the city; discusses upper world society with Zee and Aph-Lin. ### [XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_race_se/chapters/xvi) Describes the Vril Staff and his observations at the College of Sages; refrains from arguing with Zee due to her physical and intellectual superiority. ### [Chapter XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_race_se/chapters/xvii) Observes Vril-ya timekeeping, longevity, and social tranquility; expresses horror at the Vril-ya's power over Koom-Posh. ### [Chapter XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_race_se/chapters/xviii) Walks with Taë, learns about Vril-ya emigration and politics, is used as a decoy for the Krek, and witnesses its destruction. ### [XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_race_se/chapters/xix) The narrator observes the Vril-ya transportation and economic systems, reflecting on their social structure. ### [Chapter XX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_race_se/chapters/xx) Attempts to learn flight with Vril-ya wings but fails due to lack of inherited instinct; is alarmed by Zee's growing affection. ### [Chapter XXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_race_se/chapters/xxi) Reflects on Zee's affection and his own fear and awe, resolves to inform Aph-Lin of her preference. ### [XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_race_se/chapters/xxii) Expresses desire to travel and fear of Zee's advances; receives warning from Aph-Lin. ### [XXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_race_se/chapters/xxiii) Visits Aph-Lin's country-seat, feels trapped by Zee's affections, and rejects her advances. ### [Chapter XXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_race_se/chapters/xxiv) Accompanies Aph-Lin to the funeral, observing and learning about Vril-ya burial customs. ### [XXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_race_se/chapters/xxv) Observes burial customs and gender roles, contemplates escape with Zee but fears the consequences. ### [Chapter XXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_race_se/chapters/xxvi) Falls into melancholy, longs for escape, and reflects on the incompatibility of Vril-ya society with human nature. ### [Chapter XXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_race_se/chapters/xxvii) Brooding alone, he goes for a walk with Taë and is complimented by Gy-ei, but feels terror at the sight of the Tur. ### [XXVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_race_se/chapters/xxviii) Faces a death sentence from Aph-Lin, prays for comfort, and refuses Taë's offer of shared death. ### [The Escape](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_race_se/chapters/xxix) Awakened by Zee and rescued from the death decree; escapes to the upper world and later records his story. ### [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_race_se/chapters/endnotes) Provides personal observations and experiences, such as trying the vril bath and noting the differences between underworld and upper world animals. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_race_se/characters/narrator - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_race_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_race_se/characters