The Treasure of Lemon Brown

Greg Ridley is the short story’s main character. He’s 14 years old and has prominent “moon eyes” that remind Lemon Brown of his deceased son, Jesse (60). The author highlights Greg’s youth and immaturity through his moodiness toward his father and his impulsive decision to enter an abandoned building at the start of the story. The narrator points out that Greg has room to grow by noting that he doesn’t have sufficient experience to grasp everything Lemon Brown tells him. For example, he doesn’t fully understand why the man lost his professional drive when he no longer had loved ones to support. When Lemon Brown tells Greg, “‘I wasn’t as much as I used to be, not without somebody to make it worth the while. You know what I mean?’” Greg nods as though he understands, “not quite really knowing” (60). As a dynamic character, Greg grows and evolves across the story, gaining perspective as he internalizes the lessons Lemon Brown teaches him. 

As the story’s protagonist and viewpoint character, Greg shapes the story’s structure and themes. The narrative follows a transformative chance meeting that he has one stormy night, and the third-person narrator uses Greg’s perspective to enhance the