Men:
Hugh Miller: This man was once Willie's esteemed attorney but decided to bow out of his position when Willie started asking him to do exceedingly corrupt things for him. Unlike Willie and his other political comrades, Hugh has a clearer conscious and walks out of a deal that would've made him good money because he knew it was wrong. It is a good thing this character does not come up in the book again, he escaped the corruption everyone else was eventually swallowed into.
George/Sugar Boy: I believe these two characters could both be labeled as "Unfortunates," leaving them helpless and hardly to blame. George and Sugar boy both show sympathy and true human emotions for example when George was is stuck in a paralyzed grief stricken state after his wife dies in which "he was weeping silently, the tears running down his smooth, flat cheeks, but his jaw bone was not missing a beat on the bread"(280). Similarly, when the boss dies, all Sugar boy can say is "Sugar Boy was leaning above him, weeping and sputtering, trying to speak. He finally managed to get out the words, 'does it hurt much Boss- does it hurt?'"(553). Even though Sugar boy killed Adam, he did it our of love for his boss who took him in. Both characters are mostly good, mentally ill, and discriminated against as different. In the end they are innocent and easily manipulated.
The Scholarly Attorney, Jacks "dad": This character has a lot to blame for in the development of Jack in the long run. The attorney left Jack and his mother when Jack was about 5, leaving Jack mistrusting and stuck in a cynical whirlwind with little respect for his mother and no one to guide him. What makes the attorney so good is that he doesn't just leave for another woman, he leaves to live in a small humble apartment above the mexican restaurant and take care of a mentally ill man.
Cass Mastern: This character is a deceased relative of Jack's that comes up in a journal Jack reads. He is good because even though he cheated with his best friends wife, he realized his wrong doings and dedicates his life to relocating the slave "Phebe," that Annabelle sold.
Judge Irwin: This character is very hard headed and sees past Willie and his bribes, with that said this seemingly good character took a bribe early in the book but was not nearly as bad as Willie's brides. The judge is a nice man and feels so bad he ends up committing suicide because he knows his future will not be wiped clean of the bad deed of his past.
Adam Stanton: This idealist is Anne's brother and also the killer of Governor Willie Talos. Murder s not an excuse for anything but Adam is consistently good up until that point. He sees through the corrupt political lies and even rejects a position in the hospital at first when he believes the money he will be receiving is dirty and set up.
Jack Burden: Jack Burden is horrible throughout most of the book, but comparably speaking he is not the worst. Jack is a cynical follower of political big shots who doesn't really realize when to stop and think about his actions. Throughout the book Jack is very honest with himself and others which makes him more admirable and even comes to reflect on his life and make some good conclusions to his wrong doings. "But in the end, the truth gave the past back to me"(606). In the end, Jack grows as a person and sees the lies of the life he was living.
Tom Talos: Tom is a reflection of Willie's bad parenting which leads him into all sorts of trouble. Tom gets a girl pregnant and drives drunk, neither of which these things are explained to Tom and taught how to be corrected, instead Willie pays off the girls father in yet another bribe. I feel bad for Tom in some ways although he was old enough to make the right decisions his fatherly guidance was missing. Tom pays for his misdoings and eventually dies along with his father.
Willie Talos: Willie is a confusing character but is mostly recognized by the reader as selfish, cheating, lying, and corrupt bastard. Willie is not a horrible person underneath everything, he is a sad man who got wrapped up in the lime light and victory of politics. He dug up dirt on people for his own political gain, resulting in deaths including his own. Willie is a bad father to Tom and an awful husband to loyal Lucy. Willie does help out some aspects of life in Louisiana and says in some of his last words, "Sure there is some graft, but there's just enough to make the wheels turn without squeaking...And do I deliver the state something. I damned well do"(548). Willie had potential to be good but saw politics as a strategical lying game instead of maintaing his farm boy, "Cousin Willie" roots.
Tiny Duffy: This man is the worst culprit of the followers who was looking out for himself the whole entire time which lead to the death of Willie and Adam. I agree with Jack when he says, "Well, you were the bosses poodle. And you liked it. You liked to be spit on. You weren't real. You weren't human"(576).
Women:
Phebe: Phebe does not have a choice, she is a slave and has been given the short end of the stick in life, along with the other African American's in this time period. She is sent away for knowing the truth.
Lucy Talos: Lucy was a loyal wife that put up with Willie's misogynistic BS in this patriarchy of a society. She stands by Tom and most all of Willie's decisions keeping her head up and a positive attitude, choosing to see the good in all people saying, "He was a great man... 'You see, Jack,' she said, 'I have to believe that'"(593).
Jack's Mother: Jack's mom was not consistently the best mother but eventually decides to live on her own and divorce her young husband once and for all. She leaves her beloved house and travels to find a new start. She deals with Jack's mean attitude towards women with unconditional love.
Lois: Lois is simply Lois; a woman of power who captured Jack for a short time, only to be abandoned when she shows her true colors. For all we know, Lois could have been true to herself the whole time and it was Jack who was blinded by her beauty.
Anne Stanton: An is looked at as an innocent and easily manipulated character who also brings out Jack's sweet side and follows her heart. Anne sleeps with Willie, betraying Lucy, Jack, and Adam. Anne is being used throughout the book and treated as a little girl when in the end she does what she wants to do even if it is out of lust.
Sadie Burke: Sadie is a hard ass with a sharp tongue who is very intimidating to men, but sadly she is almost the opposite of how she looks. Sadie lets the boss use her to cheat on his wife and stays by his side and supports what he does even though she is complaining the whole time. Sadie is jealous, irrational, and in the end reveals information to support the murder of Willie Talos and Adam Stanton.
Annabelle Trice: Annabelle is a deceased character but is the definition of selfish. This woman sleeps with her husbands best friend and feels so much guilt when she looks at her slave that instead of owning up to her affair, she sells the slave. Annabelle never learns her lesson and easily dismisses Cass when he wants to find Phebe. Caught up in lust and lies; Annabelle proves to be a bad woman.
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