One Day

Dexter Mayhew is the protagonist of One Day alongside Emma Morley. He comes from a wealthy family and, fresh out of college, he embodies the archetype of the cool kid—he smokes, spends late nights playing strip poker, and is attractive, with a fine nose, full lips, a stylishly coiffed front hair quaff, and well-defined muscles. Dexter’s aspirations revolve around attaining wealth and fame, and he has plans to travel the world for a few years post-graduation. He clashes with Emma over their differing perspectives, and he struggles to comprehend her outspokenness and desire for political activism, questioning why he should apologize for valuing “security, travel, nice food, good manners, ambition” (15).

Dexter’s path of Personal Growth and Self-Discovery in the novel is far from linear, marked by numerous setbacks. After traveling the world in search of himself, he settles in London and ventures into the realm of television, where his natural talent is quickly recognized. Dexter reflects that “appearing on camera had been like sitting at a piano for the first time and discovering he was a virtuoso” (65), indicating a sense of innate talent and effortless success. Dexter embraces this newfound success, sleeping around and living luxuriously. He appears to have found his identity and his purpose in life.

However, beneath Dexter’s facade of success lies a profound inner turmoil. Chapter 6 exposes his vulnerability, as he turns to heavy substance misuse and seeks solace in the company of strangers, driven by a fear of loneliness and impending dread. This behavior strains his relationships—his relationship with Emma withers, and he grows distant from his family. His sick mother worries about him and tells him that he has the potential to be an exceptional young man. Eventually, he loses his job after showing up drunk on live TV and being judged as “the most odious man in television” (126). Dexter’s journey illustrates the theme of Navigating Life's Expectations and Realities—he initially believed the world was his oyster, only to be disillusioned in nearly every aspect of life. When he marries Sylvie and becomes a father, he discovers that family life isn’t inherently idyllic, but rather full of “bickering, meanness, and sullen looks” (225), ultimately leading to divorce.

It's Emma who brings Dexter happiness. During his marriage with Sylvie, he finds solace in occasional meetings with Emma. After his divorce, he is left devastated until his reunion with Emma in Paris. As they build a life together, Dexter finds professional success in a new field, overcomes his substance use disorder, and embraces a more sentimental side—exemplified by his wedding speech, where he expresses being “happier than ever” (274). Emma’s death plunges Dexter back into old habits, yet he manages to navigate this grief. By the end of the novel, Dexter emerges as a mature and changed man, capable of reflecting on the past while also moving forward.

Ian Whitehead is a key secondary character in One Day—he is introduced in Part 1, where he works alongside Emma at Loco Caliente, and later becomes her boyfriend. Ian dreams of becoming a successful stand-up comedian, but he finds himself disappointed by the lack of progress in his career. He starts working at the Tex-Mex restaurant to make ends meet and later works at an electronics store, where he earns little money but manages to keep his evenings free for stand-up gigs. He laments that “life as a stand-up comedian had yet to bring the wealth and TV exposure that it had once promised” (108), echoing the novel’s overarching theme of Navigating Life's Expectations and Realities—Ian grapples with disappointment as he confronts the gap between his aspirations and his current reality.

Ian is characterized by his corny sense of humor—he constantly tries to make Emma laugh. Ian is also portrayed as messy, emotionally chaotic, and immature. While living with Emma, he walks around wearing casual clothes with holes, and he neglects his financial obligations, failing to contribute to the mortgage and squandering money on video games and takeout meals. Ian stands in stark contrast to Dexter, whom he harbors a deep-seated animosity toward. He also becomes envious of Dexter’s relationship with Emma, and, following their breakup, admits to violating Emma’s privacy by reading her old notebooks.

By the end of the novel, however, Ian has grown and matured. After Emma’s death, he reaches out to Dexter, offering comfort and acknowledging their shared loss. He admits that “Emma always loved you, very, very much […] she always lit up and sparkled with you in a way she never did with me” (297). This illustrates the profound evolution of his character. Ian also decides to leave behind his pursuit of comedy, secures a stable position in an insurance office, and finds fulfillment in marriage and parenthood. This narrative arc conveys both the themes of Personal Growth and Self-Discovery and The Evolution and Complexities of Relationships Over Time, as Ian ultimately finds his place in the world and establishes a mature relationship with his former archenemy.