American Gods

by

Neil Gaiman

Technical Boy Character Analysis

The New God of technology in America, portrayed as a whiny teenage boy. Technical Boy may claim to have all the answers, but he is ultimately insecure about his place in the minds of the American people, scared that he is already becoming obsolete as newer technologies become popular every day.
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Technical Boy Character Timeline in American Gods

The timeline below shows where the character Technical Boy appears in American Gods. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 2
Mythology, Belief, and Community Theme Icon
Change and Growth Theme Icon
Deception Theme Icon
...raging headache in the back of a limousine. A fat young man (later revealed as Technical Boy ) sits across the aisle and two men sit beside Shadow. Shadow asks to be... (full context)
Mythology, Belief, and Community Theme Icon
Change and Growth Theme Icon
Plurality and the Power of the Individual in America Theme Icon
The young man ( Technical Boy ) tells Shadow to tell Mr. Wednesday that Mr. Wednesday is in the “Dumpster of... (full context)
Chapter 7
Mythology, Belief, and Community Theme Icon
Change and Growth Theme Icon
Deception Theme Icon
Plurality and the Power of the Individual in America Theme Icon
...a job, working for the New Gods instead of the dead-end Old Gods. Reminded of Technical Boy ’s speech, Shadow asks if Lucy knows him. Lucy responds that Technical Boy is a... (full context)
Interlude
Mythology, Belief, and Community Theme Icon
Change and Growth Theme Icon
Life, Death, Desire, and Sacrifice Theme Icon
Deception Theme Icon
...her and Bilquis gets in, hoping to find a customer. A smug looking teenager ( Technical Boy ) greets her, saying that he can pay for whatever he wants, as a technical... (full context)
Mythology, Belief, and Community Theme Icon
Change and Growth Theme Icon
Life, Death, Desire, and Sacrifice Theme Icon
...speeds behind her and crushes Bilquis into the street, as Bilquis curses the boy inside. Technical Boy gets out, still singing about an analog girl in a digital world, sneers at “all... (full context)
Chapter 14
Mythology, Belief, and Community Theme Icon
Change and Growth Theme Icon
Life, Death, Desire, and Sacrifice Theme Icon
The Sacredness of American Land Theme Icon
...asks what time the handoff of Wednesday’s body will take place. Both Mr. Nancy and Technical Boy answer “Midnight.” Shadow grumbles that no one ever tells him the rules to all this.... (full context)
Mythology, Belief, and Community Theme Icon
Change and Growth Theme Icon
Deception Theme Icon
...memories but unable to get the thought of Laura and Robbie out of his mind. Technical Boy knocks on Shadow’s door, complaining about the lack of technology in this motel and practically... (full context)
Mythology, Belief, and Community Theme Icon
Change and Growth Theme Icon
Deception Theme Icon
The Sacredness of American Land Theme Icon
The time comes to say some words over the body and Technical Boy deliriously cites the opening lines of Yeats’ “Second Coming,” ending at “the center cannot hold.”... (full context)
Chapter 17
Mythology, Belief, and Community Theme Icon
Change and Growth Theme Icon
Life, Death, Desire, and Sacrifice Theme Icon
...Lookout Mountain. New Gods begin to arrive, wearing the confidence of being worshipped and adored. Technical Boy walks among them, looking for Mr. World. (full context)
Mythology, Belief, and Community Theme Icon
Change and Growth Theme Icon
Life, Death, Desire, and Sacrifice Theme Icon
Deception Theme Icon
Back at Lookout Mountain, Technical Boy finally finds Mr. World and tells him that everything is on schedule. Technical Boy then... (full context)
Mythology, Belief, and Community Theme Icon
Life, Death, Desire, and Sacrifice Theme Icon
Deception Theme Icon
...and assuming that Mr. World is lying about making such a fuss about a stick, Technical Boy says he doesn’t need to know the truth. Mr. World confesses that he needs the... (full context)