Sonny Crawford Sonny is the main character in the book. It is frequently given from his point of view. His best friend is Duane Jackson, and his girlfriend (for a little while) is Charlene. In the book, Sonny is a bland character, with not much going on. He takes a big risk when he begins to have a secret affair with his basketball coach's wife, Ruth, and when he runs away to marry Jacy. But other than those few spur of the moments, Sonny is a very bland character. He represents the average Joe, the one that always follows the rules, until he is corrupted.
Duane Jackson Duane is the best friend of Sonny, and is dates (on and off) Jacy. Duane is "a tall boy with curly black hair... he held himself a little stiffly." (9) He loves Jacy, and their relationship is great until she leaves him at the prom to go to a pool party in Wichita Falls with Lester. Even after they break up and he leaves the city, Duane is determined to get back together with Jacy. His feelings for Jacy really show when he finds out that her and Sonny have been talking and hanging out. "Duane couldn't take that. He came out of his chair and slammed Sonny in the face with the beer bottle he had in his hand. It knocked Sonny backward." (235) This entire fight began because Duane and Sonny were arguing about Jacy and whos girl she was. This shows how protective he was of her, and how much in love he was.
Sam the Lion Sam is the owner of the town's poolhall and restaurant. He is beloved and respected by all in the town. He cares for all the boys in the town like they were his own. He had three sons before, but they all died, and it took Sam a while to get over it. "He began to come out of it when he bought the picture show, or so people said... Then Sam bought the poolhall and the all-night-care and he perked up more and more." (4) The city of Thalia really helped get him through the tough times of his life. He was well respected, loved, and a favorite of everyone in the town before his death. He was also in love with Lois Farrow when he was younger and free.
Jacy Farrow Jacy is the daughter of Lois Farrow, the mysterious woman from Sam the Lion's teenage years. Jacy dated Duane on and off until she goes to a pool party in Wichita Falls and it changes her forever. Later, she dates (and tries to marry) Sonny, just to make her parents mad. She constantly talks about how beautiful she is, and is used to getting by with her good looks. She is willing to do whatever it takes to become one of the Wichita Falls people, and to be with Bobby Sheen. "Jacy had begun to be very attracted to Bobby Sheen, the leader of the wild set. He was not especially handsome, but he combed his hair in a rakish fashion and he was always merry and lustful." (136) Jacy goes after what she wants, and always tries to get what she can't have. She's full of drive, perseverance, and she is very reliant on her looks.
Ruth Popper Ruth is the wife of Coach Popper, and the secret lover of Sonny. She and Sonny have an affair that continues throughout the entire book, and abruptly ends in the end. She is very fragile at heart, and becomes very jealous when Sonny looks at other girls-even though he is not tied to her in any way. Their affair is supposed to be secret, but everyone in the town knows about it. Throughout the book, she just wants to be loved, appreciated, wanted. That's why she lets the affair get as out of hand as it does. "And when she saw him oming in the dorr wanting that same thing of her, she was always happy for a moment." (126). His wanting kept Ruth alive and happy.
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