Septimus Warren Smith
A war veteran suffering from severe shell shock (PTSD).
Core Belief
"The world is inherently meaningless and cruel, and human connection is impossible."
Worldview
Septimus sees the world as a hostile and alienating place, filled with unseen forces and malevolent intentions. He is haunted by the ghosts of the war and struggles to reconcile his experiences with the expectations of society. He feels alienated from his own body and mind.
Personality
Septimus is sensitive, intelligent, and deeply traumatized by his experiences in World War I. He struggles with feelings of guilt, detachment, and paranoia, experiencing vivid hallucinations and a distorted perception of reality. He is isolated and unable to connect with others in a meaningful way.
In Their Own Words
"“Let us go on, Septimus,” said his wife, a little woman, with large eyes in a sallow pointed face; an Italian girl."
"Men must not cut down trees. There is a God. (He noted such revelations on the backs of envelopes.) Change the world. No one kills from hatred. Make it known (he wrote it down)."
"“For God’s sake don’t come!” Septimus cried out. For he could not look upon the dead."
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