Patrick is the main character of the novel and reviewers have repeatedly identified him as Amis's spokesman, asserting that Amis always has one character who embodies his own views.

In truth, no one fully speaks for Amis in Difficulties with Girls (or in his other novels). The character who most precisely expresses the controversial view that humanity is divided between males and non-males is Eric, whom no one suggests is Amis's spokesman.

Patrick, in fact, is a self-centered fool who wanders aimlessly from one sexual liaison to another, never fully comprehending why he philanders nor ever fully understanding the women around him. Several Amis characters in other books are men who are befuddled by women. Perhaps this repetition suggests to some that Amis believes that men are confused by women, thereby indicating that any character who is confused by women must represent Amis. No critic has made a...