# Rachel Menzies — Oil! character guide > Rachel Menzies in Oil! by Upton Sinclair. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Rachel, Miss Menzies, the Menzies, Miss Rachel Menzies, Menzies, V Rachel, Dear Rachel **First appearance:** 0001-oil ## Snapshot Rachel Menzies moves through Bunny's social world as a figure of quiet contradiction, deemed impossible by the pious Henrietta yet sharp enough to tell Bunny he truly belongs with her. ## Who they are 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 telling Bunny that his temperament suits Henrietta rather than herself, marks her as a character whose honesty cuts against the social graces of her class. She matters to the early arc as a foil and mirror for Bunny's romantic and moral confusion, embodying the tensions between propriety, desire, and self-knowledge that run beneath the surface of the novel's drawing-room scenes. ## Relationships ### [Bunny Ross](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/characters/bunny_ross) _friendship_ Bunny and Rachel are childhood friends who share a loyal, supportive bond despite social pressures. ### [Bunny Ross](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/characters/bunny_ross) _friendship_ Bunny and Rachel are childhood friends who share a loyal, supportive bond despite social pressures. ### [Bunny Ross](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/characters/bunny_ross) _friendship_ Bunny and Rachel are childhood friends who share a loyal, supportive bond despite social pressures. ## In the story ### [XI: The Rebel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/xi-the-rebel) A Jewish socialist student who challenges Bunny and criticizes his fraternity friends. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/i) A Jewish socialist student who is blunt and principled; she refuses to engage with those she considers insincere and lectures Bunny on class-consciousness. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/ii) Outspoken student who criticizes Billy George and proposes starting a student paper. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/vii) Notes that thousands of Socialists are in jail. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/viii) Writes a two-thousand-word interview with Harry Seager about Siberia and relays her father's advice to sell the paper. ### [Chapter X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/x) Terrified that her father will be deported and killed; calls Bunny for help after being interrogated by secret agents. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/vi) Joins other Jewish students to follow fruit-picking work during the summer. ### [XIII: The Monastery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/xiii-the-monastery) Invites Bunny to the Socialist local meeting; appears transformed from a drab fruit-picker to an interesting-looking girl. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/i) A Socialist like her father. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/ii) Rachel writes to Bunny inviting him to the Socialist meeting; Bunny notices her transformed appearance after fruit picking. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/vii) Stubborn about refusing Bunny's help due to class-consciousness, but considering skipping a term. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/viii) Describes police brutality on the picket line to Bunny and the 'red bunch'; later absent from class. ### [Chapter X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/x) Distraught over her father's arrest, pleads for help. ### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/xiv) A socialist classmate of Bunny's who attends the premiere to see the film's portrayal of the Russian Revolution and condemns it as war propaganda. ### [XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/xvi) Rachel apologizes for her earlier words but forcefully condemns Vee Tracy's film as a tool of reactionary propaganda, expressing deep anger over its portrayal of Russia and its impact on workers. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/i) Returns from fruit-picking to find her younger brothers jailed for Communist activities. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/ix) Receives a hundred dollars from Bunny to cover the costs of a title search against Ben Skutt. ### [XVII: The Exposure](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/xvii-the-exposure) Bunny offers her a paid position to run a socialist paper and continue her work with the Ypsels. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/viii) Brings Bunny to Young People's Socialist League meetings, represents the moderate Socialist view. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/ix) A Socialist college graduate facing career dilemmas; debates Paul about revolution and morality. ### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/xi) Bunny phones her with news of the allowance and invites her to lunch to discuss funding the Ypsels. ### [XVIII: The Flight](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/xviii-the-flight) Orthodox Socialist party member, co-editor of The Young Student, managing the paper's content. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/i) Orthodox Socialist party member who controls the paper's content and keeps out left-wing extremists. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/v) Bunny turns over the paper to her and arranges monthly payments. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/vii) Serves as editor of The Young Student, writing a series called 'Justice and the Student.' ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/viii) Mentioned as the recipient of a promised article about the Socialist movement in France. ### [XIX: The Penalty](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/xix-the-penalty) Bunny appreciates her steady correspondence and sends her a message upon sailing home. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/ii) Bunny's wife, who senses his distress and presses him about his visits to 'reds,' ominously predicting the issue will make 'all the difference in the world' to them. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/viii) Steadily sends Bunny a four-page paper each month with itemized financial statements. ### [XX: The Dedication](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/xx-the-dedication) Hosts the dinner party where Bunny presents his labor college plan; defends her editorial stance against Communist influence in The Young Student. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/i) Sends a telegram of sympathy to Bunny. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/iii) Meets Bunny at the train, shows him proofs of The Young Student, and defends the Socialist position against Communist influence. ### [XXI: The Honeymoon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/xxi-the-honeymoon) Accompanies Bunny on the search for a college site and to the oil field, learning about the oil industry's dark side. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/i) Accompanying Bunny, enthusiastic about the property and the college. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/ii) Initially doubts Bunny's proposal due to her Jewish heritage and class background, but eventually confesses her love. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/iii) Marries Bunny; is certain Ruth has been in love with Bunny. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/iv) Accompanies Bunny to the oil field, learning about the industry and meeting Mrs. Groarty. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/v) Bunny's bride; she physically restrains him from rushing into the mob attack, fearing for his life. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/vi) Tends to Paul at the scene and comforts Bunny, later helps notify Ruth. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/vii) Rachel comforts Bunny, holding him through the night, and reflects on the systemic violence that has pursued Paul. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/viii) Suggests that the family should be notified about Paul's condition. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/ix) Keeps vigil alongside Bunny at Paul's bedside. ### [X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/x) Present with Bunny at Paul's bedside, listening to the radio. ### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/xi) Present at Paul's bedside, tries to calm Ruth. ### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/xiv) Helps hold Paul's foot and assists in restraining Ruth. ### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/xv) Attends the funeral with Bunny. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/characters/rachel_menzies - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/characters