Frederick Character Analysis in All the Light We Cannot See

An intelligent, shy student at the National Institute, who befriends Werner Pfennig. Frederick is an avid scholar of birds, and idolizes Audubon, the great American naturalist. When he begins to fall behind in his studies and athletic performances, Frederick is increasingly bullied by the students and teachers, and Werner begins to distance himself him Frederick. Eventually, Frederick is beaten by the other students—so savagely that he loses his long-term memory, and spends the rest of his life as an invalid—something that inspires tremendous guilt in Werner.

Frederick Quotes in All the Light We Cannot See

The All the Light We Cannot See quotes below are all either spoken by Frederick or refer to Frederick. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

World War II, the Nazis, and the French Resistance Theme Icon

). Note: all page numbers and citation info for the quotes below refer to the Fourth Estate edition of All the Light We Cannot See published in 2015.

“Your problem, Werner,” says Frederick, “is that you still believe you own your life.”

Related Characters: (speaker),

Page Number and Citation: 223

Explanation and Analysis:

Bastian steps forward. His face flares scarlet in the cold. “Give him another.”
Again Frederick sloshes it onto the ice at his feet. He says in a small voice, “He is already finished, sir.”
The upperclassman hands over a third pail. “Throw it,” commands Bastian. The night steams, the stars burn, the prisoner sways, the boys watch, the commandant tilts his head. Frederick pours the water onto the ground. “I will not.”

Related Characters: (speaker), (speaker)

Page Number and Citation: 229

Explanation and Analysis:

Frederick Character Timeline in All the Light We Cannot See

The timeline below shows where the character Frederick appears in All the Light We Cannot See. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...next two years. Werner, still fourteen years old, makes friends with a bookish boy named Frederick who likes animals. (full context)

In class, Werner and Frederick study biology, and learn from an old “scientist” who tells them about the German’s superiority... (full context)

...said, “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.” Frederick, Werner reports, thinks that this story is—but the rest of the sentence is blacked out.... (full context)

Interconnectedness and Separation Theme Icon

...English channel and conquer Britain. In the meantime, Werner takes pleasure in spending time with Frederick, who entertains him by pointing out the different types of birds in the fields. (full context)

...just think about the science, not the practical purpose. Werner, who’s stayed close friends with Frederick, notices that Frederick is falling behind in his studies and his training. Werner helps Frederick... (full context)

...to point to the weakest boy in the group. To Werner’s horror, Helmut points to Frederick. Bastian orders Frederick to run, just as Ernst did—the other boys will have to catch... (full context)

Bastian demands that Frederick prove that he’s not the weakest. He orders Helmut to beat Frederick with a heavy... (full context)

In January of 1941, Frederick invites Werner to travel to Berlin with him and meet Frederick’s family. Frederick has been... (full context)

Werner and Frederick travel to Berlin by train. In the city, Frederick takes Werner to his home, which... (full context)

In the evening, Werner meets Frederick’s mother and father. More guests come by the house, and everyone has a lavish dinner.... (full context)

...prisoner when it’s his turn, even though the man looks pathetic and harmless. When it’s Frederick’s turn, however, he pours his bucket of water on the ground. Bastian, furious, tells Frederick... (full context)

...Institute, the prisoner’s body is kept outside for a week. Over the next few days, Frederick is picked again and again as the weakest soldier, and each time, he’s forced to... (full context)

In the coming weeks, the students bully Frederick by leaving dead animals in his bed and pushing him around. Werner tries to look... (full context)

The boys in the National Institute bully Frederick horribly. Werner alone looks out for his friend, helping him whenever he can. Late at... (full context)

One day Werner asks Frederick why he doesn’t just leave the National Institute and return to Berlin. Frederick replies, a... (full context)

One day in April, Werner wakes up to find that Frederick is not in his bunk. He’s told that the previous night, some of the boys... (full context)

...it is blacked out). He says that life is very difficult for him. He mentions Frederick, who once said there is no such thing as free will. He says, “My mistake... (full context)

...a trip to Berlin, using the last of his savings. In Berlin, he goes to Frederick’s house, and meets Frederick’s mother for the first time in nearly a year. Frederick’s mother... (full context)

Werner goes to see Frederick, who is sitting in bed, being fed his meal. Frederick seems only dimly aware of... (full context)

...chamber. Werner realizes that he’s looking at Frau Schwartzenberger, the Jewish woman who lived in Frederick’s building. Werner has the sense that he’s sinking into the ground, being swallowed up by... (full context)

...part of the house, Werner finds a copy of Birds of America, a book that Frederick adored. (full context)

The narrator describes Frederick—he’s currently living with his mother outside West Berlin. Frederick spends his days making strange drawings... (full context)

One day, Frederick receives a letter. The letter has been sent by “a woman from Essen” (whom we... (full context)