Who Are The Main Characters In Indecision?

The novel 'Indecision' by Benjamin Kunkel is this quirky, introspective ride that follows Dwight Wilmerding, a 28-year-old guy stuck in that post-college existential limbo. Dwight's this lovable mess—smart but paralyzed by overthinking, working a dead-end job in pharmaceuticals, and haunted by his inability to make even trivial choices (like picking a restaurant). His indecision becomes almost a character itself, driving the plot as he spirals into self-analysis after taking an experimental drug meant to 'cure' his hesitation. The story's peppered with memorable side characters: his sister Alice, who’s both his anchor and occasional irritant; his ex-girlfriend Natasha, who lingers in his mind like a unresolved chord; and Vaneetha, the enigmatic woman he follows to Ecuador on a whim, hoping she’ll somehow solve his life.

What’s fascinating is how Kunkel uses Dwight’s inner monologue to mirror millennial anxieties—career paralysis, romantic indecision, the dread of adulting. The supporting cast feels like reflections of Dwight’s fragmented psyche: Alice represents practicality, Vaneetha symbolizes escapism, and his friend Dan embodies the cynical humor that barely masks Dwight’s despair. It’s less about traditional 'heroes' and more about how these orbiting personalities expose Dwight’s flaws. By the end, you’re left wondering if any of them truly 'helped' him or just became mirrors for his self-discovery.

Dwight’s the heart of 'Indecision,' but the book’s charm lies in its ensemble. There’s his sister Alice, who’s equal parts tough love and vulnerability, and Vaneetha, whose free-spiritedness pulls Dwight into a journey that’s more about running away than finding answers. Even minor characters like his apathetic boss or the pseudo-intellectuals at his dinner parties add layers to his world. They’re not just names—they’re fragments of the chaos Dwight both craves and fears.