Jack's character is increasingly revealed as the reader gets further along in the book. The scene in which he visits his mother indicates mommy issues and an estranged relationship with his past life. We see Jack for the posh, ignored rich kid he once was--living in a castle on the sea with his friends, the Stantons. Jack, we realize, is stuck in attitudes of self-entitlement that have translated into a know-it-all air about everything. The scene with the Dumonde girl reveals (before Jack's recollection of his marriage with Lois) Jack's misogynistic tendencies. She puts Jack's predicament well--a sort of foreshadowing spastic episode. "All right, speed up." she said tauntingly, "go on, get me home fast, but you're a son of a bitch. A high and mighty son of a bitch, and you sat there so high and mighty, thinking I was a fool, and so high and mighty thinking everybody there was a fool…" (178) she begins ranting and raving about Jack and we starkly see that she is right, for the most part, Warren cleverly disguises her opinion of Jack through her insanity--her wild nature and the fact that she has had breakdowns. This mental instability discredits her in Jack's mind and helps him (and his mother) further hate her and look down on her. But what she says does get into Jack's head, for a split second. From here on it is abundantly clear to the reader that Jack is not as calm, cool, and collected as he'd like to be (and is) perceived--but he is in fact a well of insecurity, removed/aloof apathy, and very detached but relentless scrutinizer. It is interesting also to see how Jack's view of Willie's speeches helped to change the way Willie presented his speeches. Jack's superior understanding of manipulating people helped and hurt Willie's career. He tells him people don't care about what he says as long as he makes them feel--revealing Jack's cunning understanding of human nature and also his lack of faith or understanding of people.
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