Alfie is the protagonist of the novel. He is both gifted and burdened with the ability to rewind time and relive moments of his life, giving him the power to alter outcomes and confront the consequences of his choices. This ability places him at the intersection of human desire, moral responsibility, and divine order, and the story explores the tension between personal will and fate through his character. Alfie is defined by both his curiosity and his longing: He is fascinated by the possibilities of what could be yet increasingly aware of the moral and emotional costs of trying to control life. This tension relates to the theme of Changing Fate and Interfering with Divine Design, as his mother reflects, “I want, and you want, and God does what God wants” (154). Through his gift, Alfie experiences the illusion of control, yet he repeatedly discovers that some events cannot be rewritten, reinforcing the novel’s points on destiny and consequence.

Alfie’s emotional journey is equally central to the theme of Accepting One’s Life, Mistakes, and Mortality. From a young age, he grapples with grief and regret, particularly over the deaths of his mother and his friend Wesley.