Characters Characterization is spare but effective. The protagonist is portrayed through sensory detail and inner monologue rather than backstory, which increases reader identification and places emphasis on immediate survival instincts. The antagonist remains largely unknown—an anonymous "Killer in Purple"—which amplifies dread; the lack of motive or identity turns the killer into a symbol of implacable threat. Minor characters (if present) serve to reflect or contradict the protagonist’s perceptions, often deepening the theme of unreliable reality.