Shatter Me

Juliette is the protagonist and the narrator of Shatter Me. She is 17 years old and has a lethal touch. Because of this abnormality, Juliette’s parents never touched her and isolated her from the society, calling her a monster. Unloved and uncared for, Juliette has become a scared, self-loathing, and self-conscious girl. At the beginning of the novel, Juliette is terrified and vulnerable, and she describes herself as “too petrified too paralyzed too paranoid” (4), yet she already has the ambition to overcome her fear and she wants to be “bigger, better, stronger [...], the bird that flies away” (10).

When Juliette arrives at the compounds of Sector 45, she is disgusted by the luxurious living conditions because she perceives them as a theft from the civilian population that is forced to live in poverty. She is not tempted to enjoy the comforts of this life, but instead, she demonstrates her rebellious nature by refusing to accept the fancy dresses and hot meals provided for her. This demonstrates her values and testifies to the fact that she is not willing to put personal comfort over social justice.

Until Juliette met Adam, she had never known what it means to be loved and accepted.