44 pages • 1 hour read
Bunnicula: A Rabbit-Tale of Mystery
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Character Analysis
Harold
Harold is the main character of the novel, and the story is told from his perspective. He’s a dog and considers Toby his closest human companion because the young boy feeds him late-night snacks. Harold is mostly agreeable with everyone, although he doesn’t get along with Peter as much because the older boy is usually self-absorbed and says harsh things to him. Harold is close friends with Chester the cat and is usually submissive to him, but he stands up to his friend to stand by his personal convictions.
Harold is kind, motivated by food, and hates going to the vet. He’s an easygoing dog, but he also stands against injustice. Chester has always been a dear friend of his, but when the cat starves the bunny, Harold confronts his friend to save Bunnicula’s life. He has a mind of his own and does what he thinks is right, but he also submits to the will of others in the home. He often does what Chester tells him to do, and he loyally follows the Monroes’ commands to earn their affection or treats.
Chester
Chester is Mr. Monroe’s cat. Mr. Monroe is an English professor, and Chester grew up surrounded by books. He prides himself on his voracious reading abilities. He has a vivid imagination that’s fueled by the books he reads. On the night Bunnicula is brought into the Monroe household, Chester has been reading mystery and horror novels. These stories influence how he views Bunnicula. He interprets Bunnicula’s strange fur markings and pointy teeth as signs the bunny is a vampire.
Chester is easily influenced by the stories and prone to drama. Once he receives therapy at the end of the novel, he starts enacting the concepts he reads in his self-help books. Whereas Harold lives in the moment and is spurred by the people and animals around him, Chester’s thoughts and actions are influenced by his books.
Bunnicula
Bunnicula is the tiny, timid rabbit the Monroes find in the theater during a screening of Dracula. Bunnicula sleeps during the day and escapes from his cage at night to drink vegetable juice in the kitchen. Chester believes that Bunnicula is a vampire, but the bunny never refutes or agrees with this claim because he never speaks. Without hearing Bunnicula’s thoughts or opinions, everything that’s known about the bunny is observational. Chester thinks Bunnicula is secretly dangerous, while Harold believes the rabbit is innocent and mostly boring. This leaves readers to discern Bunnicula’s true identity for themselves.
Toby
Toby is the youngest brother who always shares his snacks with Harold. He’s young enough that he still loves to play, and Harold appreciates the boy’s kind gestures toward him. When Bunnicula first joins the Monroe family, Toby and his brother fight over who gets to take care of the little creature. This worries Harold, who fears he’ll lose Toby’s attention and snacks. This worry proves unjustified because Toby continues to allow Harold into his room in the evenings for snack and pets.
Peter
Peter is the older brother, and he isn’t as kindhearted as Toby. Peter occasionally says harsh things to Harold, and he continually asserts his dominance in the family by arguing with Toby and showing off to his parents. Harold isn’t close to Peter as a result.
Mr. Monroe
Mr. Monroe is an English professor who loves his family and pets. Chester is his cat, but he also has a good relationship with Harold. Mr. and Mrs. Monroe work as a team in the family and usually appear together in the story. They are both well intentioned, but they can’t communicate with their pets who so desperately want to communicate with them.
Mrs. Monroe
Mrs. Monroe is the mother of the household. She is the fast-acting peacemaker who resolves tensions between the pets and her sons. When Toby and Peter fight over who gets to name the bunny, she chooses the name Bunnicula to everyone’s pleasure and qualms the familial tension. When the pets’ behavior in the household seems to go awry, she swiftly takes them to the veterinarian to be evaluated.
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