George is the protagonist of A Single Man, a 58-year-old gay man living in Los Angeles in 1964 who teaches English at a community college. A Single Man is written from his perspective, but he refers to himself in the third person throughout it. George’s partner, Jim, died by car accident a few years ago, and he has been living alone ever since. He has one friend, Charlotte, who lives nearby and whom he visits regularly. George is an individual with many conflicting sides to his personality. He is all at once arrogant and insecure, childish and self-aware.

The ways in which George views himself, society, and his place in it play a major role in his actions throughout his final day. He is also heavily influenced by the people in his life, his motivations constantly changing as a result. George’s pedantic nature makes him vulnerable to manipulation, such as when he is manipulated by Charlotte, Kenny, and the students in his class. George often  speculates how others view him, and his narration is unreliable because he never confirms these thoughts. George’s reactions show how much the opinions of others matter to him, such as when he is questioned in class and explodes in a long rant about minorities.