I Am David

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 1963

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Download PDF

Summary

Background

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-4

Chapters 5-8

Character Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Tools

Beta

Discussion Questions

Character Analysis

David

David is the protagonist of I am David. He is a 12-year-old boy who has lived his entire life in a concentration camp until he is inexplicably aided in escaping by a guard who works at the camp. Unbeknownst to David, at the story's beginning, David’s father spoke out against the regime under which he lived in one of the Eastern Bloc countries. As a result, David’s father was killed, and his wife and son were imprisoned (David’s mother is later assisted in escaping and traveling to Denmark, presumably the family’s country of origin.) David leaves the camp and must travel across Europe, through Greece, Italy, Switzerland, and Germany, finally reaching Denmark, where he reconnects with his mother.

David is a dynamic character who evolves throughout the story. He learns to love again when he meets Maria; previously, David had isolated himself physically and emotionally from human connection after the devastation of Johannes’s death three years earlier. David is guided and inspired by his belief in God, whom he rediscovers during his journey. He is also inspired and motivated by his appreciation of the beauty and goodness present in the world, concepts he had not known existed before he left the concentration camp.

Johannes

In the absence of David’s parents or any same-age friends, Johannes operates as a quasi-parental in David’s life at the concentration camp. The reader only hears of Johannes through David’s memories of him, as Johannes died three years before the story's events from a heart attack, a health condition likely exacerbated or brought on by the unsanitary and cruel conditions of the camp.

Johannes cares for David and teaches him the importance of personal responsibility, love, and gratitude. He also tells David many things about the outside world that assist David on his journey. David draws on the memory of Johannes when he feels overwhelmed with fear and loneliness on his way to Greece, illustrating the importance of this relationship in shaping David.

The Man

“The man,” a detested figure in David’s life who works as a guard at the camp, assists David in escaping by leaving a bundle containing a water bottle, bread, and a compass for David. He gives David directions on where he needs to travel to reach Denmark and orchestrates David’s escape by briefly turning off the electricity that powers the electric fences.

Later, the reader learns that “the man” was in love with David’s mother and helped her to escape the camp years earlier. Presumably, his actions in helping David to escape are also motivated by his continued love for her.

Maria

Maria is a young girl who lives in a grand home in Northern Italy with her family, which includes her mother, father, and four brothers. Maria immediately bonds with David when he saves her from a fire in a shed where she is tied up as part of a game with her young brothers. Maria, unlike others, does not criticize David for his differences but accepts him as he is and admires his ideas and opinions.

David’s friendship with Maria helps him to realize that a life with meaningful human connections is ultimately more fulfilling than a life lived in isolation. This initially brings David sadness and makes him feel inadequate, but ultimately spurs him on in his journey to reconnect with his mother in Denmark.

King

King is the dog owned by the cruel farmer who lives on a farm in the Swiss mountains. The farmer's family members are cruel to David; they imprison him and treat him as an enslaved person. However, King recognizes David’s innate goodness and becomes David’s loving companion. David is touched and flattered when the dog, of his own free will, accompanies him on his journey. King protects David, provides companionship, and ultimately saves his life when he is pursued by suspicious guards in Germany.