Character Analysis
Keller is a man on the run, living in the marshy Fingers in Westmark. He's a political cartoonist/journalist who satirized Cabbarus in a column about two characters named Old Kasperl and the Bear, which of course got him sentenced to death. Keller managed to flee though, and hide out in the marshes of the Fingers with Sparrow and Weasel. He's a smart guy who likes to use his work as a mouthpiece for resistance. Check out his rebellious intelligence in action:
"Your journal has given me pleasure," said Torrens. "Those talks between Old Kasperl and his bear show a nice wit. But—Old Kasperl? With his peasant jacket, his tankard, his gray whiskers? I would expect his author to be a much older man."
"The times we live in age us rapidly," said Keller. "Even so, I take it as a compliment. I make nonsense of the world to help others make sense of it." (14.39-40)
He's got a quick wit, Keller does, which we see in his play on nonsense and sense in the above excerpt. Plus he earns praise from Torrens, which must mean his critique of Cabbarus is pretty on point (for more on Torrens's feelings about Cabbarus, be sure to read his analysis elsewhere in this section). Keller maintains that freedom of the press—especially against the oppressive Cabbarus—is important, and he eventually links up with Florian, which is perfect for him. Long live liberty and all that jazz.
Compassionate Keller
Keller is also a dude who's down with some feelings. Unlike Dr. Torrens, who winds up in the Fingers with him, he isn't dismissive of the hard conditions in which his hosts live. Check his speech out:
"On the contrary," said Keller, "they are among the lucky. Marianstat swarms with waifs and strays, as you surely know. Sometimes I think they must live in the cracks of the sidewalks. For them, what you call a sewer would be a holiday in the country. We, too, should be glad of it as long as we are obliged to stop here." (14.51)
Keller brings some real world perspective to the mix—here we see him as a pragmatist, helping Dr. Torrens realize that water rats might be better off than some other kids. In short, Keller's a rebel with a cause.