# Merton — Driven Back to Eden character guide > Merton in Driven Back to Eden by Edward Payson Roe. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Restraining Merton **First appearance:** 0003-i-a-problem ## Who they are The eldest son, quick to shoulder farm labor and to stretch himself on a rag carpet after a long day's hauling. ## Relationships ### [Junior](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/driven_back_to_eden_se/characters/junior) _family_ Junior and Merton are likely siblings or close relatives, given their high interaction frequency. ### [John Jones](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/driven_back_to_eden_se/characters/john_jones) _family_ John Jones and Merton appear to be father and son or close male relatives. ### [Mr. Jones](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/driven_back_to_eden_se/characters/mr_jones) _family_ Merton and Mr. Jones are likely father and son, with frequent familial interactions. ### [Bobsey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/driven_back_to_eden_se/characters/bobsey) _friendship_ Bobsey and Merton are close friends or companions, sharing many interactions. ### [Mousie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/driven_back_to_eden_se/characters/mousie) _family_ Merton and Mousie are likely siblings or close family members, with many shared scenes. ### [Mr. Jones](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/driven_back_to_eden_se/characters/mr_jones) _family_ Merton and Mr. Jones are likely father and son, with frequent familial interactions. ### [Junior](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/driven_back_to_eden_se/characters/junior) _family_ Junior and Merton are likely siblings or close relatives, given their high interaction frequency. ### [Mr. Jones](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/driven_back_to_eden_se/characters/mr_jones) _family_ Merton and Mr. Jones are likely father and son, with frequent familial interactions. ### [John Jones](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/driven_back_to_eden_se/characters/john_jones) _family_ John Jones and Merton appear to be father and son or close male relatives. ### [John Jones](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/driven_back_to_eden_se/characters/john_jones) _family_ John Jones and Merton appear to be father and son or close male relatives. ### [Bobsey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/driven_back_to_eden_se/characters/bobsey) _friendship_ Bobsey and Merton are close friends or companions, sharing many interactions. ### [Junior](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/driven_back_to_eden_se/characters/junior) _family_ Junior and Merton are likely siblings or close relatives, given their high interaction frequency. ## In the story ### [Driven Back to Eden](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/driven_back_to_eden_se/chapters/driven-back-to-eden) One of the children, involved in the farm work and learning alongside the narrator. ### [A Problem](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/driven_back_to_eden_se/chapters/i-a-problem) The eldest son, caught smoking cigarettes with other boys, sullen and lacking constructive activities. ### [II: I State the Case](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/driven_back_to_eden_se/chapters/ii-i-state-the-case) The eldest son, present during the evening discussion and encouraged by his father to understand the 'why' of things. ### [New Prospects](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/driven_back_to_eden_se/chapters/iii-new-prospects) The son who desires a region with Indians, bears, and big game, showing his adventurous spirit. ### [A Momentous Expedition](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/driven_back_to_eden_se/chapters/iv-a-momentous-expedition) Chooses a book on game and is promised a breech-loading shotgun; agrees not to smoke until 21. ### [A Country Christmas in a City Flat](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/driven_back_to_eden_se/chapters/v-a-country-christmas-in-a-city-flat) Merton is excited to receive a gun for Christmas and agrees with the narrator about staying near civilization. ### [VI: A Bluff Friend](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/driven_back_to_eden_se/chapters/vi-a-bluff-friend) The narrator's son, who learns a lesson about not taking offense too easily from the interaction with Mr. Bogart. ### [Telling About Eden](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/driven_back_to_eden_se/chapters/viii-telling-about-eden) Puts on serious and sportsmanlike airs, expecting to hunt game for income. ### [IX: “Breaking Camp”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/driven_back_to_eden_se/chapters/ix-breaking-camp) Merton remarks with a veteran's air that 'the old camp is about broken up,' showing his enthusiasm for the move. ### [Scenes on the Wharf](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/driven_back_to_eden_se/chapters/x-scenes-on-the-wharf) Accompanies his father to check on household effects and is given liberty to explore the boat and wharf, making acquaintances and asking questions. ### [A Voyage Up the Hudson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/driven_back_to_eden_se/chapters/xi-a-voyage-up-the-hudson) Prowls around the boat with Winnie and the narrator during the storm, wondering how the pilot navigates. ### [A March Evening in Eden](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/driven_back_to_eden_se/chapters/xii-a-march-evening-in-eden) The son who shows manly spirit by helping with baggage and offering to search for Mr. Jones. ### [Rescued and at Home](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/driven_back_to_eden_se/chapters/xiii-rescued-and-at-home) Merton eagerly helps, carries Bobsey, and later falls asleep on the rag carpet. ### [Self-Denial and Its Reward](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/driven_back_to_eden_se/chapters/xiv-self-denial-and-its-reward) Struggles with temptation to hunt, ultimately chooses to help his father, and is rewarded with apples and a successful rabbit hunt. ### [Our Sunny Kitchen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/driven_back_to_eden_se/chapters/xv-our-sunny-kitchen) Shoots the rabbit that provides the first country dinner, though he is disappointed in his marksmanship. ### [Making a Place for Chickens](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/driven_back_to_eden_se/chapters/xvi-making-a-place-for-chickens) Helps clear cornstalks and is initially inclined to discard them, but follows his father's instructions to keep them for cow bedding. ### [Good Bargains in Maple Sugar](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/driven_back_to_eden_se/chapters/xvii-good-bargains-in-maple-sugar) Excitedly compares carrots in the root cellar to a goldmine. ### [Butternuts and Bobsey's Peril](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/driven_back_to_eden_se/chapters/xviii-butternuts-and-bobsey-s-peril) Helps haul the wagon and carry sap, expresses joy in farm life. ### [XIX: John Jones, Jun.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/driven_back_to_eden_se/chapters/xix-john-jones-jun) Works with sap collection and later trims fallen branches in the wood lot; witnesses the rescue. ### [XX: Raspberry Lessons](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/driven_back_to_eden_se/chapters/xx-raspberry-lessons) Summoned by whistle to hear Mr. Jones's raspberry lessons and is assigned tasks like tying up canes. ### [The "Vandoo"](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/driven_back_to_eden_se/chapters/xxi-the-vandoo) Charged with watching the children at the sale; later laughs at the narrator's milking mishap. ### [Early April Gardening](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/driven_back_to_eden_se/chapters/xxii-early-april-gardening) Helps load manure and cart, learns about gardening tasks. ### [A Bonfire and a Feast](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/driven_back_to_eden_se/chapters/xxiii-a-bonfire-and-a-feast) Tramples the brush pile, is warned against reckless bravery, later works hard picking potato worms and is given a break by his father. ### [No Blind Drifting](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/driven_back_to_eden_se/chapters/xxiv-no-blind-drifting) Writes out most items in the account book despite blots and errors. ### [Owls and Antwerps](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/driven_back_to_eden_se/chapters/xxv-owls-and-antwerps) Patrols the farm with his gun, shoots and wounds a screech owl, then cares for it by applying mutton suet to its wing. ### [A Country Sunday](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/driven_back_to_eden_se/chapters/xxvi-a-country-sunday) Works with the narrator on uncovering raspberries and later goes fishing with Junior, bringing home sunfish and winfish. ### [Strawberry Visions and “Pertaters”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/driven_back_to_eden_se/chapters/xxvii-strawberry-visions-and-pertaters) Helps drop potato seed and assists with transplanting strawberry plants. ### [Corn, Color, and Music](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/driven_back_to_eden_se/chapters/xxviii-corn-color-and-music) Helps with planting corn, leading the horse and dropping kernels. ### [We Go A-Fishing](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/driven_back_to_eden_se/chapters/xxix-we-go-a-fishing) Goes fishing with Junior, helps free the boat, and later requests to plant melons. ### [XXX: Weeds and Working for Dear Life](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/driven_back_to_eden_se/chapters/xxx-weeds-and-working-for-dear-life) Works alongside the narrator, but is sent to rest when he shows signs of exhaustion from the labor. ### [Nature Smiles and Helps](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/driven_back_to_eden_se/chapters/xxxi-nature-smiles-and-helps) Merton helps with hoeing and discovers green worms on currant and gooseberry bushes; he is sent to the village for poisons. ### [XXXII: Cherries, Berries, and Berry-Thieves](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/driven_back_to_eden_se/chapters/xxxii-cherries-berries-and-berry-thieves) Guards the fruit and confronts the berry thieves, fighting the eldest boy and calling for Junior's help. ### [XXXIII: Given His Choice](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/driven_back_to_eden_se/chapters/xxxiii-given-his-choice) Angry after the raid, almost reckless, but restrained by Junior. ### [Given a Chance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/driven_back_to_eden_se/chapters/xxxiv-given-a-chance) Helps pick raspberries and supervises younger children. ### [We Shall All Earn Our Salt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/driven_back_to_eden_se/chapters/xxxv-we-shall-all-earn-our-salt) Helps drive to the landing, nearly falls asleep from exhaustion, and is put in charge of Bagley's children in the raspberry patch. ### [A Thunderbolt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/driven_back_to_eden_se/chapters/xxxvi-a-thunderbolt) Sets off rockets on the Fourth of July and swims in the creek with Junior. ### [Rallying from the Blow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/driven_back_to_eden_se/chapters/xxxvii-rallying-from-the-blow) Helps with compost gathering, raspberry picking, and is praised by Robert for acting like a man during the emergency. ### [August Work and Play](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/driven_back_to_eden_se/chapters/xxxviii-august-work-and-play) Helps with strawberry planting, catches children stealing melon, and builds eel weir with Junior. ### [A Trip to the Seashore](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/driven_back_to_eden_se/chapters/xxxix-a-trip-to-the-seashore) Swims fearlessly at the beach and helps with the potato harvest. ### [A Visit to Houghton Farm](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/driven_back_to_eden_se/chapters/xl-a-visit-to-houghton-farm) Helps clear debris from the barn foundation and prepares for construction. ### [Hoarding for Winter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/driven_back_to_eden_se/chapters/xli-hoarding-for-winter) Able to walk through the tall corn without his hat being seen; helps with the corn cutting. ### [Autumn Work and Sport](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/driven_back_to_eden_se/chapters/xlii-autumn-work-and-sport) Goes hunting with Junior, brings home game, helps with farm work, and prepares to start school. ### [Thanksgiving Day](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/driven_back_to_eden_se/chapters/xliii-thanksgiving-day) Assisted with stock and firewood, and went hunting with Junior after a quick lunch. ### [We Can Make a Living in Eden](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/driven_back_to_eden_se/chapters/xliv-we-can-make-a-living-in-eden) Tracks rabbits with Junior and remarks that there is something for a fellow to do without being nagged by a policeman. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/driven_back_to_eden_se/characters/merton - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/driven_back_to_eden_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/driven_back_to_eden_se/characters