Kenneth Moynihan: The Rescuer and Confidant of Artie Dam

Overview

Kenneth Moynihan is a minor yet pivotal character in Elizabeth Strout's The Things We Never Say. He first appears when he pulls Artie Dam from the water after a near‑drowning that may have been an unspoken suicide attempt. Over the course of the novel, Ken evolves from a chance rescuer into Artie's most trusted confidant—the only person to whom Artie reveals the secret that his son Rob is not biologically his. Ken's quiet decency and his willingness to listen without judgment give Artie a space to share truths he dares not speak to anyone else. Their friendship, built on shared meals at Spud's and conversations about free will and global events, becomes a quiet counterweight to the political and personal turmoil around them.

Plot Role

Ken's plot function is twofold: literal rescuer and emotional anchor. In Chapter 2, Ken pulls Artie out of the water and later drives him home. This act interrupts Artie's planned suicide and sets the stage for the rest of the story. Over the following months, Ken and Artie meet for dinner at Spud's several times. During these meals, Ken listens to Artie's most painful revelations—the fight at the soccer game, the secret of Rob's paternity, and Artie's reflections on free will. Ken's role as a safe confidant allows Artie to process his secrets without immediately confronting his wife Evie. In the epilogue, Ken is still present at Artie's funeral, standing with Heather Morrison's father, a quiet witness to the end of the story.

Motivations and Traits

Ken's motivations are never spelled out explicitly, but his actions reveal a man of strong but unstated moral convictions. He reaches out to Artie after the rescue because he "had known the family of Heather Morrison"—the young woman killed in a car accident while Artie's son Rob was driving. This shared trauma creates an immediate bond. Ken is perceptive: when Artie begins to tell him about Rob's real father, Ken interrupts his eating and insists Artie stop speaking until he has full attention. He is also discreet. After Artie confides in him, Ken thanks Artie for sharing and assures him the secret is safe. He does not gossip or pressure Artie to act.

Ken's political conservatism emerges only indirectly. Evie learns from a client that Ken and his wife Lucille are "big supporters" of the incoming president and that their family experienced rifts over politics. Yet Ken never raises the topic with Artie, and Artie's surprise at this news shows that Ken keeps his views private to preserve their friendship. This restraint suggests a man who prioritizes human connection over ideological debate.

One of Ken's most striking traits is his capacity for genuine affection. When Artie sits alone by the Christmas tree and thinks, "I love him" about Ken, that warmth appears to be mutual. Ken's decency makes it impossible for Artie to hate him even when they disagree about politics. The text implies that for Artie, Ken embodies the idea that "people are multitudinous"—that a good person can hold views Artie finds disastrous.

Chronological Arc

Ken's arc spans from the opening rescue through the epilogue:

Late summer/early autumn (Chapter 2): Ken pulls Artie from the water, drives him home, and later invites him to dinner at Spud's. They talk about free will, the soccer‑game violence, and the Israeli‑Palestinian conflict, but noticeably avoid the upcoming presidential election.
Late autumn (Chapter 6): Artie reveals to Ken that Rob is not his biological son. Ken's reaction—"Jesus effing Christ"—shows his shock, but he listens without lecturing. This confession deepens their bond.
Christmas (Chapter 7): Artie learns from Evie that Ken supports the incoming president. After initial surprise, Artie concludes that Ken is "the opposite of an evil person" and decides their friendship can survive political silence. Ken appears no differently in the story; his political views remain offstage.
Four years later (Epilogue): Ken attends Artie's funeral and is seen speaking to Heather Morrison's father, a final sign of the connections that defined his role.

Ken himself undergoes no personal transformation on the page. His steadiness is his defining characteristic; he is the fixed point around which Artie's recovery and honesty revolve.

Relationships

Artie Dam: The central relationship. Ken is the only person Artie tells about Rob's paternity. Artie calls him his "best friend" even though they have only met a few times. Their conversations at Spud's are intimate and unfiltered. Ken does not challenge Artie's worldview but receives everything Artie says with respect.

Lucille Moynihan: Ken's wife is mentioned only by name. Evie's client describes the couple as "very Catholic" and politically conservative. Lucille does not appear in any scene, underscoring that Ken's friendship with Artie exists independently of his family life.

Other characters: Ken has no direct interaction with Evie or Rob. At Artie's funeral he stands with Heather Morrison's father, suggesting a wider network of grief and compassion.

Key Decisions and Consequences

Rescuing Artie: Ken dives in without hesitation. Consequence: Artie survives to face his secrets and gradually overcome his suicidal ideation.
Keeping Artie's secret: After Artie tells him about Rob's biological father, Ken does not share it with anyone. Consequence: Artie gains a trusted outlet and feels less alone.
Withholding his own politics: Ken never volunteers his support for the incoming president. Consequence: Their friendship remains intact; Artie can love Ken despite their differences. This decision illustrates Strout's theme that relationships can survive political division when both people choose not to weaponize their beliefs.

Kenneth's choices highlight his quiet integrity. He does not seek credit or influence; he simply shows up.

Themes and Symbols

Loneliness: The novel's epigraph (Carl Jung on loneliness as the inability to communicate what is important) directly connects to Ken's role. Artie is able to communicate his most important truth to Ken, breaking the isolation that led to his suicide attempt. Ken's presence proves that connection is possible even across political and experiential divides. (See the loneliness theme page.)
Secrets and Lies: Ken becomes the keeper of Artie's deepest secret. He is a person who can hold an unspoken truth without using it for judgment. (See secrets and lies.)
Free Will: The free‑will discussions at Spud's—prompted by Artie's teaching and his Jung reading—are a recurring backdrop. Ken's response ("I've never seriously thought about that") emphasizes that practical decency can coexist with philosophical uncertainty. (See free will theme.)
Political Division: Ken's support for the incoming president is revealed only by hearsay. Artie's decision to "just never talk about politics" is a strategy for preserving love across division. (See political division.)
Rescue symbols: Ken literally pulls Artie from the water; later, he "rescues" Artie's emotional honesty. The water may symbolize both near‑death and the possibility of rebirth through another's care.

Five Questions and Answers

Why does Artie consider Kenneth Moynihan his best friend?
Artie tells Evie that Ken is his best friend because "he saved my life." Beyond the literal rescue, Ken is the one person Artie trusts with the secret of Rob's paternity. Ken listens without judgment, and their conversations at Spud's provide a rare space for Artie to speak openly.
How does Ken react when Artie reveals that Rob is not his biological son?
In Chapter 6, Ken is shocked—he stops Artie from eating and says, "Jesus, Mary, and Joseph" and later "Jesus effing Christ." He then listens to the entire story without interrupting. He thanks Artie for sharing the secret, indicating his discretion and empathy.
What are Kenneth Moynihan's political views, and how does Artie learn about them?
Evie tells Artie that a client—Ken's niece—described Ken and his wife Lucille as "big supporters of our next president." The couple is described as "very Catholic" and the family experienced breaks over politics. Artie never hears this directly from Ken; it is revealed through gossip.
Does Ken ever learn about Artie's suicide attempt?
The text does not show Ken being told directly that Artie planned to die. However, Ken knows Artie "almost drowned" and may infer the truth. In any case, their friendship is not affected; Ken continues to treat Artie with respect and affection.
How does Ken's presence affect Artie's recovery from suicidal thoughts?
Ken's rescue gives Artie a second chance. More importantly, their ongoing conversations help Artie feel understood. By the time Artie laughs uncontrollably with Flossie in Chapter 7, he has moved past his suicidal period. Ken's steady friendship is one of the relationships that helps Artie choose life, even if implicitly.

For further discussion, see the ending explained and questions and answers pages.