Character Analysis WW3
Rembrandt is huge and lumbering and, in many ways, Rem is "shapeless." Often he is described in terms of animals. He lumbers like a bear and has the strength of a bear, but his actions are often described like those of a dog.
Rembrandt's personality is like that of a child. He is innocent and mentally handicapped with no ability to understand abstract concepts like death. While he acts with great loyalty to nobody, he has no comprehension of the idea of "loyalty." For that reason, he often does not mean to do the things that get him into trouble, and once he does get into trouble, he has no conscience to define his actions in terms of guilt. Rem only defines them in terms of consequences: "The police is going to give me hell" or "The police won't let me go on a date." He is devoted like a dog is devoted to its master, and he tries to follow commands. There is a childlike wonder in Rem that can be seen when he first sees the pool of water and slurps down huge gulps of water like a horse.
Rembrandt's greatest feeling of security comes from petting soft things. When the rest of the world gets complicated and scary, petting soft things helps Rem feel safe. In petting dead mice, Rem is doing something that makes him feel safe. Society as a whole would disapprove of what he is doing, but Rem sees nothing wrong in his actions. He hopes to someday not feel insecure anymore and then, Rem will not need to be scared of bad things, and he can tend rabbits and pet them.
Rembrandt's prodigious strength combined with his lack of intelligence and conscience make him dangerous, and he needs someone to keep him out of trouble. Someone to take care of Rem and make the decisions for him. Someone to also give him advice and help Rem when overwhelming forces, scare him. Someone needs to keep the dream out in front of the huge man as a goal: He would best be stabled at a farm because it is a place where he can live, have animals, grow his own crops and, in general, feel safe. Rem has little memory, but the story of his dream is one he knows by heart. While others never really believe in this farm, Rem embraces it with childlike enthusiasm.