The Bar Code Tattoo

Zekeal is a secondary character and an initial male love interest for Kayla. Zekeal is a new student at Winfrey High, whose enthusiastic dislike of bar code tattoos attracts a clique consisting of Mfumbe, Nedra, Allyson, and August. Zekeal is described as having “golden-brown eyes, thick brown hair, and high cheekbones” and has “always seemed completely self-assured” (35, 79). Kayla immediately becomes attached to Zekeal because unlike so many others, including Kayla’s best friend Amber, Zekeal understands the pain that the bar code inflicts and shows sympathy for the grief that Kayla feels over the loss of her father.

Zekeal is also an ally antagonist, in which perceived allies with heroic traits or noble intentions are revealed to be antagonists—usually through some form of betrayal. His role as an ally antagonist becomes apparent when he is revealed as an undercover recruitment agent for Tattoo Gen. His job is to recruit new agents and to convince resisters to comply with getting the bar code tattoo. Zekeal’s targets are the members of his high school clique; they are in charge of writing and distributing the rebellious KnotU2 magazine. Zekeal successfully manages to sway the headstrong Nedra Harris to his cause, but he fails to convince Kayla. Zekeal represents The Desensitizing Influence of Technology, for he has fully conformed to the expectations of Global-1 even before he arrives at Kayla’s school. Every relationship he forms is calculated, and his only intention is to convince resisters to get the tattoo. He romances Nedra, but as soon as she is converted, he drops her and focuses on Kayla. He also lies repeatedly about ending things with Nedra and harms Kayla’s mental health with his untrustworthy and manipulative behaviors. Even when he tracks Kayla down and physically harms her and Mfumbe, Zekeal fails to acknowledge the pain and destruction that he causes others. His affiliation with Global-1 and their obsession with advancement and eugenics prompts him to see his peers as products rather than as human beings.

Mfumbe is a secondary character and serves as Kayla’s second love interest. He is a senior at Kayla’s high school and is the cartoonist for the KnotU2 magazine that he and his friends publish. He has “black, close-cut hair and brown skin” and hazel eyes “marbled with vivid green” (10). Mfumbe is incredibly intelligent and is known for winning the first Virtual Global Teen Jeopardy while representing Winfrey High.

Initially, Mfumbe doesn’t know Kayla well, but he still shows her more empathy than anyone else at her school. His acts of kindness act as a contrast to The Desensitizing Influence of Technology, for his thoughtful behavior demonstrates that those who resist the influence of Global-1 are often far more human than those who conform, proving that a life without technological advancements can be more beneficial than having every convenience. Mfumbe’s signature method of affection is to leave peppermint gum offerings for Kayla to cheer her up in moments of distress. Kayla is “always calmed by his friendliness” (82), which she perceives as being more authentic than the faux-kindness she receives from others. Mfumbe’s relationship with Kayla makes him a foil for Zekeal’s, for Mfumbe’s connection with Kayla is built on mutual kindness and respect and does not hide any ulterior motives.

Kayla finds Mfumbe admirable because he is taking action against the bar code tattoo system, even though his dad is benefiting from it by receiving incredible job promotions. Mfumbe’s determination to resist shows Kayla that he is “able to think of more than himself. It took intelligence and moral strength […] to act on principle instead of self-interest. Not many people could do that” (85). In a society that makes it difficult for Kayla to discern who to trust, especially after Zekeal’s betrayal, she finds Mfumbe’s honesty and self-assuredness highly reassuring.

The original KnotU2 group of bar code resisters consists of Mfumbe Taylor, Zekeal Morrelle, Nedra Harris, Allyson Minor, and August Sanchez. Its purpose is to rebel against the bar code tattoo and to resist The Dangers of Convenience Culture. Nedra Harris is part of the KnotU2 friend group, and her personality is a force to be reckoned with. She wears “her angry attitude as though it were a matter of style” (34). Zekeal’s subversive influence eventually transforms her from a strong advocate for Decode into the ultimate spokesperson for Tattoo Generation. Mfumbe calls her an “extreme person—whatever she does, she does it all the way” (127). This aspect of Nedra’s character makes her a dangerous adversary once Tattoo Gen places her in charge of delivering news on Kayla’s disappearance and hunting her down. As Nedra’s friends say, she “goes where the power is” (127). This is why she pursues a relationship with Zekeal when he first arrives at Winfrey High and why she gets the bar code tattoo when it becomes illegal to resist it. Ultimately, Nedra fails to resist Global-1’s implementation of the tattoo system when it becomes clear that she cannot pursue her career ambitions without it.

Allyson Minor is “one of those kids always hanging around in the science lab” (34). She is extremely intelligent, and her father’s status gives her and her friends access to the virtual realms that allow them to connect with other rebel groups. However, her greatest asset is also her greatest weakness. Allyson’s fascination with genetics and her lofty educational ambitions make her an easy target for the appeal of the bar code tattoo. Without the tattoo, she is unable to go to college, and once she learns that the bar code is a way of cataloging people’s DNA, her desire to work in the genetic field only grows, prompting her to exit KnotU2 and get the tattoo.

August Sanchez doesn’t speak much, but he is a member of Techno Club, which gives him an understanding of the workings of technological equipment. August is a relatively static character who eventually gives in to the peer pressure of Zekeal, Nedra, and Allyson and gets the tattoo. However, he later regrets his decision and burns his tattoo off with acid. He eventually joins the Adirondacks rebels and reunites with Mfumbe and Kayla, a development that hints at his greater involvement in the sequel.

Global-1 is the antagonistic entity of the novel. Defined as the “worldwide corporate superpower that has been unofficially controlling just about everything from behind the scenes since 2011” (39), Global-1 drives the novel’s primary conflicts and openly opposes the protagonist, Kayla, with its “fascist tactics” (46). The corporation is primarily concerned with limiting the freedoms and the privacy of all citizens, but it targets Kayla heavily by deploying Tattoo Gen agents and spreading disinformation through the news outlets. Its vendetta against Kayla and the other rebels illustrates its overall hatred of Resistance to Conformity, and it combats resistors with various digital and technological means that directly contrast with the more basic, down-to-earth lifestyle of the rebels. This juxtaposition between the rebels and Global-1 heightens the impact of the novel’s deeper messages about the right to privacy, the pitfalls of convenience, and the dangers of authoritarian control.

Global-1 is spearheaded by the country’s billionaire president, Loudon Waters. Loudon Waters serves as a clear-cut villain because he is an immoral, selfish person who is “only concerned about increasing Global-1’s fortune and power” (40). Loudon and his advisers are accused of destroying the citizens’ liberties and freedoms to “[maintain] global domination to secure their obscene wealth” (40). Loudon is not physically present in the story, but he is often mentioned and therefore looms as an unseen shadow over everything that Global-1 does. Given Loudon’s position of power as a founder of Global-1 and his brutal takeover of the United States, the author has created a caricature that is meant to serve as a cautionary tale of the hidden agendas of those who boast excessive wealth.