The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August

Harry August is the novel’s protagonist and narrator, a dynamic and round character whose cyclical existence is defined by a search for meaning and a reluctant assumption of responsibility. As a kalachakra, or ouroboran, he repeatedly relives his life from his birth in 1919, retaining the memories of all previous lives. This condition leads him through stages of mental illness, spiritual searching, scientific inquiry, and directionless hedonism. However, his journey transforms when he is tasked with saving the future, a mission that forces him to confront the moral complexities of his nature. Harry’s development is a progression from passive observer to active agent, grappling with the central question of whether it is better to preserve an existing timeline or intervene at great risk. His ultimate choices are guided by a moral compass that distinguishes him from his antagonist, Vincent Rankis, culminating in his embrace of the idea that “men must be decent first and brilliant later” (228). This principle, born from witnessing the immense human cost of unchecked ambition, becomes the cornerstone of his identity and defines his opposition to Vincent’s plans, connecting his personal struggle to the theme of