LW007

2020

Other

Handyman, a pivotal character in Kelly Link's short story "The Specialist's Hat" from her collection *Other*, is a mysterious and enigmatic figure employed at the dilapidated old house occupied by the narrator. His real name is never revealed.

He possesses a seemingly endless knowledge of the house's peculiarities, including its secret passages and ghostly inhabitants. Handyman is a man of few words, often offering cryptic advice and observing the unfolding supernatural events with a detached air.

His background is largely unknown, adding to his mystique. While he performs practical tasks around the house, his true role extends beyond simple repairs. He serves as a guide, of sorts, for the narrator, subtly steering her through the unsettling occurrences and helping her understand the nature of the ghosts residing within.

Handyman is presented as both a source of comfort and a figure of unease, embodying the strange and liminal space that the house occupies. He is essential to the plot and the story’s resolution.