Character Analysis of Protagonist in “Love Is a Fallacy”,Max Shulman(1919-1988),He began writing Dobie Gillis stories in 1945 for various humor magazines. In 1951, these were collected and published as a book entitled The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis”, from which our text is taken.,This text is a piece of narrative writing, a story, a light and humorous satire. The narrator of the story, Dobie Gillis, a freshman in a law school, is the hero or protagonist. He struggles against two antagonists: Petey Burch, his roommate whose girlfriend he plans to get, and Polly Espy, the girl he intends to marry after suitable re-education.,In this story the author created a successful character Dobie Gillis, which makes him a distinguished writer of short stories. As the narrator of the story, Dobie firstly describes himself as an intelligent and logical person. However, the analysis of the whole story demonstrates his image more clearly and objectively.,emotional person,Dobie Gillis,intelligent,self-conceited,logical person,ridiculous and self-contradictive,Intelligent: “My brain is as powerful as a dynamo（发电机）, precise as a chemists scales（天平）, as penetrating as a scalpel（解剖刀）. And - think of it! - I am only eighteen”. (p.1),logical person: At the beginning of the story, Dobie firstly describes himself. “Cool was I and logical. Keen, calculating, perspicacious, acute - I am all of these”.(p.1),self-conceited：Dobie uses many words to praise himself as an intelligent and smart person. However, the images of the other two characters are described in a totally different direction. Dobie doesnt use commentary words on his roommate Petey Burch and Polly Espy whom he likes. He describes Petey Burch as a “faddist and nothing upstairs” and described Polly Espy as “beautiful but not smarten enough” who needs Dobies guidance. (p.2),ridiculous and self-contradictive: Love is the most divine and beautiful affection on earth. However, Dobie takes it as a qualification for being a lawyer in the future. “The successful lawyers I have observed are, almost without exception, marry to beautiful, gracious, intelligent women. With one omission, Polly fits these specifications perfectly.” (p.21). He emphasizes many times that his desire for Polly is not emotional in the nature. But after teaching fallacies to Polly, he falls in love with this girl and determines to tell her. “It must be thought that I am without love with this girl. Quiet the contrary” (p.122). Dobie has a ridiculous view of love and denies his own description of himself, which makes him a self-contradictive person.,emotional person: After spending one night teaching Polly fallacy, he wants to discard the intention to enlighten that stupid girl. Though he abandons that idea after reconsideration, he reveals his disgusted emotions in the conversations with Polly. Originally, Dobie “hides his exasperation” (p.74) but gradually he loses control on his emotions. First, he feels desperate, and then his says sharply and sighs deeply. At last he is frowned by the teaching process. Actually the Pollys progresses on the Fallacies prove that she is an intelligent girl. Therefore, it can be concluded from this process that Dobie is an emotional person and not that reasonable as he thinks.,Thank You！,