The Eyes Have It
by Philip K. Dick
A man reads a paperback book and, through extreme literal interpretation of common idioms and metaphors, becomes convinced that he has uncovered a terrifying alien invasion where beings possess the ability to detach and move body parts independently, regenerate organs, and undergo binary fission without any apparent discomfort.
Narrator
An ordinary man, presumably of middle age, living in a domestic setting with a wife and children. Physically, he reacts viscerally to his reading (gasps, trembles, flushes). He's a reader of paperback books.
Narrator's Wife
The narrator's wife, a normal, caring woman who observes her husband's strange behavior with concern but remains oblivious to his internal turmoil.
Narrator's Children
The children of the narrator, who are playing Monopoly with their mother. They represent the idyllic, unaware family life that contrasts with the narrator's terrifying internal world.
Julia
A character in the fictional book the narrator reads. Described as 'a lady' with 'breeding', capable of blushing and knitting her brows angrily. To the narrator, she initially appears human but is later 'revealed' to be an alien capable of organ removal.
Young Man
A character in the fictional book. His actions are key to the narrator's literal interpretations of independent eyes, detached arms, and other alien-like physiological traits. He is seen to smile readily.
Bibney
A minor character in the fictional book, whose condition ('lost his head again') is interpreted literally by the narrator as periodic decapitation without loss of life or function.
Bob
A minor character mentioned in the fictional book, who 'has utterly no guts.' This phrase is taken literally by the narrator as meaning a complete lack of internal organs, further contributing to his alien theory.
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