Little Sunshine

Character Analysis

A Sociable Hermit

Little Sunshine is a hermit. He is not as antisocial as hermits often have a reputation of being, however; he and Randolph are, according to Randolph, anyway, "dear friends" (1.5.9). This means that they get drunk together when Little Sunshine comes to the Landing to visit.

He has some magical powers, or at least pretends to. When Joel sees him talking to Zoo, Little Sunshine warns him to make a cross because, "you done come up on me in the lighta day. […] Spin round, boy, and you is saved" (1.5.10).

We think he's really just pulling Joel's leg, but he likes to give people the idea that he's dealing in black magic. He sells Zoo a charm to keep her safe, and tells Joel the only way to find him is if the "devilman" guides him (1.5.25).

Why would Little Sunshine want people to think he's got a deal with the devil? Well, maybe he does. Also, it could be a pretty good deterrent—no unwanted visitors if you advertise that you've got evil powers. When Randolph and Joel show up unannounced at Little Sunshine's abandoned hotel, he tries to warn them off with "furious gesturing" (3.12.35).

Little Sunshine might get the award for Most Eccentric among the super-weird crowd in and around Noon City, and that's saying something. His withdrawal from society is like a magnified version of Randolph's closed-off ways, maybe showing readers that such isolation is not uncommon.