Character Relationship Map: How to Be

Characters

• Art (played by Robert Pattinson) — protagonist

  Art is an aspiring but untalented musician with a dead-end supermarket job and a degree he barely values. After his girlfriend ends their relationship, he returns to his cold parents, hires the self-h...

• Dr Levi Ellington (played by Powell Jones) — supporting

  Dr Levi Ellington is a Canadian therapist and the author of the self-help book It's Not Your Fault. Art uses inheritance money to bring him to England, hoping he can provide guidance and help put Art'...

• Ronny (played by Johnny White) — supporting

  Ronny is one of Art's two slightly unbalanced friends. Alongside Art and Nikki, he participates in Art's attempt to build a new life, pursue genuine happiness, and develop a healthier balance despite...

• Mother (played by Rebecca Pidgeon) — supporting

  Mother is one of Art's cold and neglectful parents. After Art's relationship ends, he is forced to move back into the family home, where her lack of support contributes to his difficulties. She is als...

• Father (played by Michael Irving) — supporting

  Father is one of Art's cold and neglectful parents. Art returns to live with him after the breakup, and the strained home environment becomes part of Art's effort to improve his life. Father is also u...

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Art → Dr Levi Ellington (Professional Client And Therapist) — Art hopes therapy will help him understand his past and improve his life, but the sessions deepen tensions with his parents and end with them asking Dr Levi Ellington to move out.

  Art turns to Dr Levi Ellington for help and spends much of his money to bring the therapist to stay with him.

• Art → Mother (Family Mother And Son) — Art's attempts to discuss his unhappiness with Mother contribute to the bitter conflict at home, and she joins Father in deciding that Dr Levi Ellington must leave.

  The plot identifies Mother as Art's parent and says Art confronts his parents about their treatment of him and asks for more affection.

• Art → Father (Family Father And Son) — Art confronts Father over his childhood treatment and asks for more affection; Father rejects Art's account and later responds with a cutting judgment.

  The plot identifies Father as Art's parent and recalls him making Art gather and burn his toys when Art was about six.

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Art → Ronny (Social Friends) — Ronny offers Art blunt advice, while Art continues to rely on him for support during his unresolved personal crisis.

  The plot calls Ronny Art's friend and says Ronny offers advice about confidence, women, and freedom; Art later calls him seeking support.

Story Analysis

Art seeks to understand his unhappiness through therapy, memories, and family confrontations, but his crisis remains unresolved.

Plot Progression

1. A Breakup and a Search for Answers — Art struggles to understand his unhappiness and recalls a painful childhood incident. After his partner ends their relationship, he describes himself as facing a quarter-life crisis and seeks help.
2. Therapy and Unsteady Advice — Art brings Dr Levi Ellington to stay with him and spends much of his money on the arrangement and a car. Ronny offers blunt advice, but Art remains unhappy and uncertain.
3. Returning to the Past — During therapy, Art revisits his childhood home and former bedroom, hoping to connect the place to his unhappiness. His approach to a young woman there ends with her asking him to leave, while his mus...
4. A Family Argument Deepens — Art confronts his parents about their treatment of him and asks for affection. They reject his interpretation and accuse him of blaming them for everything.
5. Therapy Ends Without Closure — Art's parents decide Dr Levi Ellington must move out because they see the sessions as bitter recriminations. Art protests his spending, receives a cutting judgment from Father, and calls Ronny as his...