Males (bad to good)
Tiny Duffy- Tiny Duffy is the ideal fat-cat, corrupt politician. He betrays his boss to work for Willie in the first place, and then attempts to swing the hospital contract to a friend so he can get a cut. Duffy is the epitome of a corrupt southern politician who will stop at nothing to obtain his two true loves: money and food.
Mac Murfee-Mac Murfee is Willie’s opponent in the gubernatorial election. After Willie discovered he was campaigning to split the vote between country-folk, Willie campaigns for Mac Murfee and wins him the election. Mac Murfee eventually ends up working for Willie once he becomes governor. Just like Duffy, Murfee is crazy power hungry and will never successully hold the power he desires.
Willie Talos- Willie is different from his fellow corrupt politicians;he actually wants to do good for the people. Willie is intent on leaving a lasting legacy for the people, the hospital. However Willie does have his major pitfalls. He is very selfish and some would say a womanizer. Willie understands to get results in corrupt politics you have to play by their rules, as long as his public image remains intact.
Cass Mastern- Cass tried to be good but lived a life that was bad to him. Cass was a slave owner who was probably ignorant to the fact that was owning slaves is morally bad. The only crime Cass commits is sleeping with his best friends wife, Annabelle. Annabelle’s affairs with Cass tragically results in the suicide of his best friend. Beyond this wrong-doing, Cass seeks to do good in his life. Unfortunately thing do not workout for him when he tries to gain some karma.
Adam Stanton- Adam is the only character who values his morals over seeking his own personal gain. In a conversation with Adam, Jack sums up Jacks attitude/purpose in life. “I can put it in a word Adam.” “What?” “You want to do good” (Pg 332.) Jack points out all the luxuries Adam ignores just so he can help more people in need of medical assistance who can’t afford it. Although Adam despises Willie as governor, Adam takes the role as director of the hospital just so he can help more people.
Females (bad to good)
Annabelle Trice- Annabelle is evil. She slept with her husbands best friend resulting in his suicide. Not only did Annabelle indirectly kill her loving husband, but afterwards she seemed to feel no remorse. Instead of grieving over her dead husband, Annabelle sold Phebe the slave because she feared Phoebe knew about the affair with Cass.
Sadie Burke- Sadie is toward the bottom of the list because she has an affair with Willie while he is still married to Lucy. Sadie seems to be really in love with Willie and becomes very jealous when he sleeps with other women. Sadie is a loyal, politically savvy, and an overall strong woman.
Lucy Talos- Lucy is the victim in Willie’s complicated string of affairs. Lucy is the glue trying to hold the Talos family during a time in which it is falling apart. Lucy is also a very loving and wise mother. After her son Tom’s car crash, she tries to reason with Willie about her son’s future. She recognizes the path her arrogant son is taking and tries to put it to an end. “he’s wild and selfish and idle and” (Pg 322.) To Lucy’s dismay, Willie doesn’t want their son to become a “sissy”.
Phebe- Phebe is the most innocent and “good” female in the book so far. Phebe did nothing wrong to be sold as a sex slave. Simply because Annabelle (the worst) could not stand the look in her golden eyes, she had her separated from her family! Phebe was a victim of her own knowledge about the affair between Annabelle and Cass. Although she is a minor character in the book, Phebe’s innocence contrasts with all the sins other people are committing.
I find your analysis of each of the characters very insightful and interesting. You've twisted the negative qualities about some of the characters into positives and reasons why they matter. I had always regarded Phebe as rather naive and passive, not a major focal point in the story but actually, her role is to be the "good" girl and contrast the others' decisions and mannerisms. I hadn't really thought about Phebe's innocence being the quality that keeps her from sinning like the others, but as you have pointed out, it is because of her immaculateness that she is able to be one of the most logical and "good" characters in the book. Furthermore, in your analysis of Lucy Talos, it is apparent that she knows that she is the glue that holds that family together, and therefore possesses much responsibility. I wonder if she wants her family, (and especially Willie) to be more like Phebe. Phebe is the exact opposite of Willie, and Lucy probably sees that as the goal for her son. The connections between Phebe, Lucy, and Willie show how much turmoil and unsettlement there is in the story.
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