# Oil! — Character guide

> Key figures in Oil! by Upton Sinclair.

- [Bunny Ross](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/characters/bunny_ross.md): The oilman's son who grew up half inside the business and half outside its conscience, forever caught between his father's fortune and the workers it grinds up.
- [Dad Ross](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/characters/dad_ross.md): A self-made oil magnate with calloused hands and a soft heart, drilling wells and buying land while quietly dreading the labor storm he can feel coming.
- [Paul Watkins](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/characters/paul_watkins.md): A poor preacher's son turned oil-field hand and organizer, whose fierce intelligence and stubborn decency make him the conscience Bunny keeps trying to ignore.
- [Ruth Watkins](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/characters/miss_ruth_watkins.md): Paul's sister, raised in a household of tent-meeting fervor and hardscrabble poverty, whose quiet dignity and watchful eyes unsettle Bunny more than any sermon.
- [Vee Tracy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/characters/vee_tracy.md): A movie star with a taste for thrills and a talent for landing in the middle of Bunny's life, all charm and impulse and inconvenient timing.
- [Vernon Roscoe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/characters/vernon_roscoe.md): The smooth, ruthless face of organized oil capital, who talks compromise while running blacklists and framing organizers with a smile.
- [Eli Watkins](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/characters/eli_watkins.md): Eli Watkins presides over the Watkins household as a figure of intense, almost frightening religious devotion, his strange vocal outbursts and convulsive worship leaving visitors like Bunny and his father shaken. He repr
- [Aunt Allie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/characters/aunt_allie.md): Aunt Allie, known as Bertie, is Bunny's worldly and cynical relative, a woman who pursued a career and a rich husband with equal calculation and has the scars to prove it. Recovering from a back-alley procedure, she conf
- [Rachel Menzies](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/characters/rachel_menzies.md): Rachel Menzies occupies an ambiguous place in Bunny's social orbit, admired by some and coldly dismissed by others like Henrietta, who considers her beyond the pale. Her willingness to speak uncomfortable truths, such as
- [Eunice Hoyt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/characters/eunice_hoyt.md): A minor character, possibly a friend or acquaintance of the Ross family.
- [Annabelle Ames](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/characters/annabelle_ames.md): A young woman who appears in Bunny's social circle.
- [Daniel Webster Irving](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/characters/daniel_webster_irving.md): A lawyer or businessman involved in the oil industry.
- [Mrs. Groarty](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/characters/mrs_groarty.md): A local woman, possibly a tenant or neighbor of the Rosses.
- [J. Arnold Ross](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/characters/j_arnold_ross.md): A prominent figure in the Ross family, possibly Bunny's uncle.
- [Aunt Emma](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/characters/aunt_emma.md): Another aunt of Bunny, part of the extended Ross family.
- [Jake Coffey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/characters/jake_coffey.md): A roughneck or worker in the oil fields.
- [Mr. Hardacre](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/characters/mr_hardacre.md): A minor character, possibly a business associate.
- [Harvey Manning](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/characters/harvey_manning.md): A friend or colleague of Vernon Roscoe.
- [Ben Skutt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/characters/ben_skutt.md): A minor character, possibly a worker or local.
- [Mr. Hank](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/characters/mr_hank.md): A minor character, possibly a ranch hand or worker.
- [Papa Menzies](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/characters/papa_menzies.md): The father of Rachel Menzies, a wealthy patriarch.
- [Chaim Menzies](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/characters/chaim_menzies.md): An older member of the Menzies family.
- [Peter Nagle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/characters/peter_nagle.md): A roughneck or oil worker, possibly Irish.
- [Mamma Menzies](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/characters/mamma_menzies.md): The mother of Rachel Menzies.
- [Mrs. Olivier](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/characters/mrs_olivier.md): A glamorous and scandalous woman connected to the Ross family.
- [Meelie Watkins](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/characters/meelie_watkins.md): A member of the Watkins family, possibly a daughter.
- [Eldon Burdick](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/characters/eldon_burdick.md): A minor character, possibly a lawyer or businessman.
- [Harry Seager](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/characters/harry_seager.md): A minor character, possibly a journalist or writer.
- [Mrs. Norman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/characters/mrs_norman.md): A minor character, possibly a neighbor or acquaintance.
- [Mr. Bandy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/characters/mr_bandy.md): A minor character, possibly a local resident.
- [Nina Goodrich](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/characters/nina_goodrich.md): A minor character, possibly a friend of the family.
- [Tom Axton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/characters/tom_axton.md): A minor character, possibly a worker or associate.
- [Henrietta Ashleigh](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/characters/henrietta_ashleigh.md): A minor character, possibly a socialite.
- [Appleton Laurence](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/characters/appleton_laurence.md): A young man from a wealthy family, possibly a suitor.
- [Gregor Nikolaieff](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/characters/gregor_nikolaieff.md): A Russian character, possibly a refugee or prince.
- [Rosie Taintor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/characters/rosie_taintor.md): A minor character, possibly a child or young woman.
- [Charlie Norman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/characters/charlie_norman.md): A minor character, possibly a relative of Mrs. Norman.
- [Old Mrs. Ross](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/characters/old_mrs_ross.md): An elderly matriarch of the Ross family.
- [Mr. Eaton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/characters/mr_eaton.md): A minor character, possibly a business associate.
- [Schmolsky](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/characters/schmolsky.md): A minor character, possibly a musician or performer.
- [Mr. Sahm](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/characters/mr_sahm.md): A minor character, possibly a local resident.
- [Mr. Ascott](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/characters/mr_ascott.md): A minor character, possibly a business associate.
- [Fred Orpan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/characters/fred_orpan.md): A minor character, possibly a child or young man.
- [Jim Ross](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/characters/jim_ross.md): A relative of Bunny, possibly a cousin or uncle.
- [Mr. Dumpery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/characters/mr_dumpery.md): A minor character, possibly a shopkeeper or local.
- [Bessie Barrie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/characters/bessie_barrie.md): A minor character, possibly a servant or friend.
- [Ben Riley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/characters/ben_riley.md): A minor character, possibly a worker.
- [Dr. Cowper](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/characters/dr_cowper.md): A doctor and possibly a university president.
- [Barney Brockway](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/characters/barney_brockway.md): A minor character, possibly a worker or local.
- [Miss Snypp](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/characters/miss_snypp.md): A minor character, possibly a secretary or teacher.
- [Jacob Menzies](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/characters/jacob_menzies.md): A member of the Menzies family, possibly a son.
- [Mr. Benzinger](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/characters/mr_benzinger.md): A minor character, possibly a business associate.
- [Carberry](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/characters/carberry.md): A minor character, possibly a local resident.
- [Mr. Bankside](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/characters/mr_bankside.md): A minor character, possibly a neighbor.
- [Billy George](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/characters/billy_george.md): A minor character, possibly a young man.
- [Tommy Paley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/characters/tommy_paley.md): A minor character, possibly a friend or worker.
- [Mr. Golighty](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/characters/mr_golighty.md): A minor character, possibly a business associate.
- [Excelsior Pete](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/characters/excelsior_pete.md): A minor character, possibly a worker or performer.
- [D. H. Culver](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/characters/dh_culver.md): A minor character, possibly a lawyer or businessman.
- [Abel Watkins](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/characters/abel_watkins.md): A minor character, possibly an older relative of the Watkins.
- [Cautious Cal](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/characters/cautious_cal.md): A minor character, a caricature of President Coolidge.
- [Hank Thatcher](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/characters/hank_thatcher.md): A minor character, possibly a worker or local.

HTML index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/characters