# Abel Watkins — Oil! character guide

> Abel Watkins in Oil! by Upton Sinclair.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** old Abel Watkins

**First appearance:** 0001-oil

## Who they are

A minor character, possibly an older relative of the Watkins.

## In the story

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/iv)

The patriarch of the Watkins family, who questions Dad about his faith and is puzzled by Dad's evasive answers.

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/v)

Old, kind, weather-beaten man with prominent blue eyes; leads the family in prayer after the earthquake and offers to sell bread to the campers.

### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/vi)

Seen patching his goat-pen; Dad asks him and his wife to come inside for a private chat about the land.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/iii)

Father of Ruth and Paul; whipped Ruth for reading a forbidden book; described as a crank.

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/v)

Mentioned as the father Eli once tried to protect his sister Ruth from, which sparked the Third Revelation.

### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/viii)

Bunny sends a telegram to him at Paradise, instructing him to bring the family at Bunny's expense.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/characters/abel_watkins
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/characters