Character Analysis

 

Sonny Crawford- A senior at Thalia High School, Sonny is the protagonist of the novel. He lives in a boarding house with his best friend Duane, as his mother is dead and his father can’t support him. Although Sonny seems to be a typical small town kid, he has a greater conscience and more developed code of ethics than his friends. Sonny is somewhat weak-minded, though throughout the novel we see him become gradually more self-assured.

“It was almost the first time in Sonny’s life that he had not been willing to go on and do whatever the crowd was doing,” (McMurtry 106).

Duane Moore- The star athlete at the high school, Duane is Sonny’s best friend. He often serves as a foil for Sonny because of his irascible demeanor. Duane is often unpredictable, and can quickly change from feelings of extreme anger to those of tremendous depression. He is dating Jacy Farrow, who consumes his life with her constant demands. Duane does not like change and has far less ambition than does Sonny.

“She’s my girl and I don’t care if we did break up. I’m gonna get her back, I’m tellin’ you right now. She’s gonna marry me one of these days, when I get a little more money,” (McMurtry 234).

Sam the Lion- As the owner of Thalia’s only café, movie theater, and pool hall, Sam is one of the most well known men in town. He is characterized as being dependable and trustworthy, as Sonny and Duane often confide in him throughout the novel. Little about his background is known, although it is revealed that he was in love with Jacy Farrow’s mother back when they were teenagers.

“Sam the Lion was the man who took care of things, particularly of boys, and Sonny did not like to think that he might die,” (McMurtry 4).

Jacy Farrow- Jacy is the prettiest, richest and most popular girl in Thalia—and she knows it. She is very self-absorbed and sees herself as destined for greatness. Although she dates Duane throughout much of the novel, Jacy often strays from him when she feels like she can gain something from another boy. Jacy is often the main source of conflict between Duane and Sonny

“ It took a rich, fast crowd to go swimming naked, and Jacy always prided herself on belonging to the fastest crowd there was, moral or immoral. Indeed, for a rich, pretty girl like herself the most immoral thing imaginable would be to belong to a slow crowd,” (McMurtry 83).

Ruth Popper- The football coach’s wife, Ruth is originally characterized as being timid and shy. However, she connects with Sonny on a very intimate level midway through the novel. Their affair changes Ruth dramatically; she becomes livelier and seems younger and fresher. Through bouts of self-doubt, Ruth gradually asserts herself as a significant figure in Sonny’s life. 

“Ruth seemed to grow fresher, more self-possessed, and more lovely, though it was only at odd, oblique moments, lying beside her or coming into her room, that he noticed that she was lovely. Instead of drooping about the house as she had once done she acquired grace and animation and moved about as active and lithe as a girl,” (McMurtry 140-141).