Ethan Rylance is a sixth-grade boy illustrated with dark, curly hair and freckles. He is the protagonist of Inkling, and most of the narrative follows Ethan’s perspective. Others describe Ethan as “a kind boy” (161) who is almost always worried. Although Ethan appears collected and well-adjusted, he often struggles to meet the expectations that his family and friends place on him. Although others expect Ethan to mirror his father’s artistic genius, Ethan’s own artistic abilities fall short of the mark, and this leads Ethan to draw stick figures or to avoid drawing altogether. His deep-seated fear of disappointing others sometimes compromises his well-being and his ethical judgment.

Similarly, Ethan undertakes overwhelming and adult-level tasks to avoid disappointing his younger sister, Sarah, and his father, Peter. Ethan often bottles up his true feelings, which fosters resentment. Similarly, to please his friends, he allows Inkling to complete the graphic novel project for him. Although Ethan recognizes this act as a form of cheating, he surrenders to the fear of disappointing others. As the novel progresses, Ethan’s reluctance to communicate his emotions slows his personal growth, but he gradually learns to trust others and opens up about Inkling’s existence to his best friend, Soren.