Lulu Bains

Elmer Gantry

Elmer seduces and exploits Lulu, a naive young woman, leading to a scandalous affair and her ruin.

Floyd Naylor

Floyd Naylor is a friend of Elmer's who is involved in the cover-up of Elmer's affair with Lulu.

Elmer Gantry

Elmer seduces and exploits Lulu, a naive young woman, leading to a scandalous affair and her ruin.

Elmer Gantry

Elmer seduces and exploits Lulu, a naive young woman, leading to a scandalous affair and her ruin.

Floyd Naylor

Floyd Naylor is a friend of Elmer's who is involved in the cover-up of Elmer's affair with Lulu.

Floyd Naylor

Floyd Naylor is a friend of Elmer's who is involved in the cover-up of Elmer's affair with Lulu.

Chapter VII

Young woman Elmer pursues; helps decorate church for Thanksgiving; appears innocent and flattered by Elmer's attention.

II

Introduced as Deacon Bains' daughter; a gray-and-white kitten-like young woman who teaches Sunday School and attracts Elmer's immediate interest.

III

Accompanies Elmer to visit a sick old woman; flutters at his attention, admits she is not engaged, and mentions her slow cousin Floyd Naylor.

IV

Lulu assists with decorations and is drawn into Elmer's manipulative conversation, showing both attraction and nervousness.

V

Mentioned as the subject of the confrontation; Frank believes she is innocent and vulnerable.

VII

Lulu is the object of Elmer's attention; she plays the organ, blushes at his advances, and agrees to meet him later despite her cousin sleeping in her room.

Chapter VIII

Descends to meet Elmer in her blue frock with hair down, succumbs to his manipulation but ultimately resists and flees after a kiss.

IX

Lulu is seduced by Elmer, naively hopes for marriage, and agrees to keep their relationship secret.

Chapter VIII

Mentioned as a bisque doll; Frank observes Elmer's predatory interest in her.

IV

Lulu is considered a bisque doll by Frank, who fears she might be trapped in marriage to Elmer. Frank thinks she would be better off free.

Chapter IX

Devoted to Elmer but becomes desperate as he withdraws affection; she is manipulated into a compromising situation with Floyd Naylor and later forced into an engagement with Elmer.

I

Mentioned as the object of Elmer's attention and the cause of Frank's suspicions.

II

Remains passionately devoted to Elmer, sending him notes and gazing at him during sermons, unaware of his growing irritation.

Chapter III

Lulu falsely claims to be pregnant in a desperate attempt to secure Elmer's commitment, then apologizes and seeks his affection despite his cruelty.

IV

Appears pale and absentminded; denies romantic involvement with Elmer Gantry but breaks down in tears when pressed by her father.

V

Trembling and red-eyed, she is brought to Elmer by her father; she submits to Elmer's condescension and weeps with joy at the engagement.

VII

Manipulated by Elmer, she succumbs to Floyd's advances and is caught kissing him, leading to her disgrace.

Chapter X

Lulu is the woman Elmer was engaged to; he falsely accuses her of being with another man to break off the relationship, rationalizing that she is better suited to Floyd Naylor.

I

Elmer recalls Lulu's chatter and rusticity, justifying his escape; she is the subject of his fabricated story of infidelity.

V

Married to Floyd Naylor by Eddie Fislinger after the scandal.

I

Referenced in connection with Elmer Gantry's scandalous relations, illustrating the hypocrisy Frank observes.

IV

Recalled as a tempting figure from Elmer's past, contrasted with Cleo's queenly demeanor.

Chapter XXV

Lulu, now married to Floyd Naylor, visits Elmer's church; she is still attracted to him and blushes at his attention.

Chapter II

Lulu, now married to Floyd Naylor, visits Elmer with her husband to explain the past, and later succumbs to Elmer's advances.

III

Lulu attends cooking school and teaches a class at Wellspring, using the church as a cover for her affair with Elmer.

Chapter XXVI

Jealous of Elmer's attention to Sister Coey, but is placated by his explanation of needing publicity.

Lively Sunday Evenings and the Art of Publicity

Expresses jealousy over Elmer's attention to Sister Coey, but is placated by his explanations.

IX

Mentioned wistfully by Elmer as the one he wishes could share in his triumph.

Chapter XXVII

Mentioned as conferring with Elmer on cooking classes late at night.

I

Lulu Bains Naylor is mentioned as conferring with Elmer on cooking classes late at night, hinting at their ongoing relationship.

II

Elmer is tired of Lulu as well, and hopes to find a new woman friend on the Chautauqua circuit.

Chapter XXXI

Elmer's former lover, heartbroken when he ends their affair due to Cleo's suspicions, becomes despondent.

II

Elmer finds her devotion rustic and unimaginative, threatening to clout her if she continues her lisping praise.

V

Heartbroken and manipulated into ending the affair; she becomes listless and loses her ambition.