Character Study: York

At the beginning of this article series, I talked about Andreas Seaver, the 12-year-old, non-speaking main protagonist and point-of-view character in All Ways. However, at his side is the character who makes the action of All Ways possible: his 19-year-old, college-bound older brother, York.

In many ways, I think York resembles the Autistic characters I’ve seen in young-adult literature: verbal but awkward, liking music, fiercely loyal despite it all. I think York has some characteristics, however, that set him apart.

First of all, in contrast to his younger brother, York does not like conflict. When Andreas sees a man at the gas station kick a cat, he does not hesitate the confront him, despite the danger. However, when York emerges from the gas station to see the mounting tension, his first reaction is to defuse it.

Andreas knows it is wrong to hit, but he also knows that it is wrong to steal. The sunburnt man did two wrong things. Andreas will only be doing one wrong thing, and the math rules say… “I’m so sorry!” York cries from behind him.

York, in that scene, presents him and his brother as the objects of pity that the man at the gas station sees them as. Andreas takes offense to this, even seeing it as a betrayal by his brother. Did they not go on a road trip to escape that preconceived notion of themselves?

This does not mean that York is not kind, though. It means that, for as much as he loves his brother, he does not always understand his feelings. When York urges Andreas to think about the cat after this confrontation instead, he misinterprets Andreas doing so as his brother forgiving him. Even so, he exhibits another centerpiece of his personality: his willingness to explain things.

“It felt gross to suck up to him, but I’d rather be nursing my pride than nursing someone back to health.” He laughs, but there’s no joy in it. “I’ve gotten pretty good at the former, but…” He cuts himself off. “I never want the opportunity to get good at the latter.”

Still, York’s ability to explain things seems to fall apart in the face of their mother’s relentless rebuffs of them. He finally does confront her, but, afterwards, he cries. York is capable of asserting himself, despite his distaste for conflict, but that does not change the fact that he is, fundamentally, a sensitive person.

All together, York may not be a typical Autistic protagonist, but he also does not present as a traditional male protagonist. This is intentional. The beginning of Andreas’ character is my own younger brother. Similarly, the beginning of York’s character is my twin brother, who is a sensitive man: a trait that he has often been ridiculed for. I want young Autistic people to see themselves (or at least parts of themselves) represented in York and Andreas, but I also want young men to see themselves in these two protagonists: to see that sensitivity can be just as heroic as boldness.

I hope that All Ways helps usher in increased acceptance for different neurotypes, but I hope that the book helps foster a greater appreciation for all kinds of being masculine as well.

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