The Host

Melanie Stryder is a primary character who is dynamic and changes throughout The Host. She is 20 years old and has spent years on the run, avoiding the Seekers attempting to capture her and her brother while surviving in the wilderness. She thus embodies The Meaning of Survival, not least in that when she is caught by a Seeker, she attempts to die by suicide to avoid capture—an act that introduces the idea that physical survival may not be the ultimate form of survival. Even after Wanderer is implanted in her body, Melanie resists her, proving her strength by hiding crucial memories from Wanderer. In particular, Melanie attempts to protect her brother, Jamie, and her partner, Jared, from Wanderer.

Eventually, Melanie begins to trust and empathize with Wanderer, and their relationship changes. In the early sections of the novel, Melanie sees Wanderer as a parasite who has stolen her body. As she spends more time with her, experiencing her thoughts and seeing her actions, Melanie sees how selfless Wanderer is. This change is evident in Melanie’s resistance to Wanderer’s plan to be taken out of Melanie: Melanie is horrified at the prospect of Wanderer’s death, although it would allow her to have her body back and reunite with Jared. Melanie’s response is to help Jared find an alternative solution; they kidnap another host body for Wanderer to inhabit. Melanie’s love for Wanderer helps her gain perspective on and understanding of all souls.

Jared is a dynamic character who changes throughout the novel. He is 29 years old and Melanie’s soulmate. The latter makes him an antagonist throughout the beginning of The Host, as he believes that Wanderer is a Seeker and doubts that Melanie actually exists within her body. He also highlights the dangers associated with prioritizing survival at any cost. The strain of living under occupation has made Jared violent and mistrustful, as Wanderer observes: “[H]is face had changed in the long months of separation [from Melanie], […] it had hardened, […] the lines pulled in different directions now” (132). Jared’s actions bear out this characterization; he injures Wanderer several times and is actively cruel to her. Indeed, it is only Jamie’s intervention that keeps Jared from killing Wanderer. It is only when Wanderer takes medicine from the souls and returns to the human community, thus proving her utility and loyalty, that Jared comes to trust her.

This character development creates a dilemma for Jared toward the end of the novel: He desperately wants Melanie returned to him and is generally willing to do anything to get her back, but knows that this requires that Wanderer leave Melanie’s body. As the only person who knows that Wanderer is planning on letting herself die to free Melanie, Jared must face this conflict head-on. He ultimately does not stop Wanderer, but instead of letting her die, he has her put in a cryotank. This shows his growth; he no longer views Wanderer as a “parasite” but as a friend. Jared then leads the raid to find an alternative body for Wanderer to be implanted into.

Ian is a secondary character in The Host who becomes a romantic interest for Wanderer. Ian is in his mid-twenties and has a brother, Kyle. Ian and Kyle have been in the caves for quite some time, having escaped civilization together after realizing the souls were implanting into humans. Ian is initially presented as an antagonist who attempts to murder Wanderer, but he quickly becomes curious about her and realizes she is not a threat. In this, Ian illustrates the transformative power of empathy because he is able to see Wanderer’s perspective better than any other character can. Ian is protective of Wanderer and even tries to protect her from his brother Kyle, leading Wanderer to see him as unique among the humans: “‘Ian is…Ian believes me. He watches over me. He can be so very kind…for a human.’ Almost like a soul, I’d wanted to say. But that wouldn’t have sounded like the compliment it was to this audience” (369). Wanderer is repeatedly shocked by how well Ian can understand her perspective and grasp the complexities of her situation. 

Ian feels attracted to Wanderer and falls in love with her, but the relationship is complicated because her host, Melanie, loves Jared. Ian is understanding of this situation, frequently arguing with Jared on Wanderer’s behalf. Toward the end of the novel, Wanderer realizes that she loves Ian and sees him as her life partner, making her decision to be removed from Melanie and die all the more difficult. Instead of dying, however, Wanderer is placed in a new host. Wanderer worries that Ian only cared for her because she looked like Melanie, but he assures her it was Wanderer he loved, and the two begin a relationship as the novel ends.

Jamie Stryder is Melanie’s 14-year-old brother and an integral secondary character. Melanie protects Wanderer from finding out about Jamie for months, and it is only on his 14th birthday that dreams of him surface and Wanderer finds out about him. However, being curious and compassionate, Jamie himself is irritated by everyone’s attempts to hide Wanderer’s presence from him, and Jeb allows Jamie to get close to Wanderer when Jared goes on a raid.

Jamie is the first to be told that Melanie is still present, and he comes to love Wanderer as an extension of Melanie, struggling less with Wanderer and Melanie’s combined existence than other characters do: “He was able, with his young, open mind, to grasp the reality of our dual personalities. He treated us like two people rather than one. Mel was so real, so present to him. The same way she was to me. He didn’t miss her, because he had her” (541). However, his affection worries both Wanderer and Melanie, who are concerned that their presence in the community could cause Jamie lasting harm, particularly if they are murdered. However, Jamie is tougher than either woman realizes: When Jared attempts to kill Wanderer, it is in fact Jamie’s intervention that saves her. Overall, Jamie serves as an example of hope for humanity because he is so unfailingly kind and loyal.

Jamie also catalyzes important narrative action. For instance, Jamie’s injury and near-death experience force Wanderer and Jared to leave the caves and attempt a medical raid. This proves Wanderer’s unique value to the community by revealing that she is able to fit in with the souls.