# Joe Gilligan — Soldiers’ Pay character guide > Joe Gilligan in Soldiers’ Pay by William Faulkner. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Gilligan, Private Gilligan, Joseph **First appearance:** 0000-soldier ## Who they are A weary enlisted man who shepherds a blinded officer home from France, only to find his own reward is a friendship he can't quite name. ## Relationships ### [Margaret Powers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/characters/margaret_powers) _friendship_ Joe Gilligan is a loyal and protective companion to Margaret Powers, sharing a deep camaraderie. ### [Januarius Jones](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/characters/januarius_jones) _rivalry_ Januarius Jones and Joe Gilligan are hostile rivals, with Gilligan distrusting Jones's motives. ### [Julian Lowe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/characters/julian_lowe) _friendship_ Joe Gilligan and Julian Lowe share a casual, supportive friendship as fellow soldiers. ### [Donald Mahon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/characters/donald_mahon) _friendship_ Donald Mahon and Joe Gilligan share a bond of mutual respect and wartime camaraderie. ### [Captain Green](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/characters/captain_green) _professional_ Captain Green and Joe Gilligan interact as military superior and subordinate with mutual respect. ### [Cecily Saunders](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/characters/cecily_saunders) _social_ Cecily Saunders and Joe Gilligan are polite acquaintances with no deep connection. ### [Margaret Powers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/characters/margaret_powers) _friendship_ Joe Gilligan is a loyal and protective companion to Margaret Powers, sharing a deep camaraderie. ### [Margaret Powers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/characters/margaret_powers) _friendship_ Joe Gilligan is a loyal and protective companion to Margaret Powers, sharing a deep camaraderie. ### [Januarius Jones](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/characters/januarius_jones) _rivalry_ Januarius Jones and Joe Gilligan are hostile rivals, with Gilligan distrusting Jones's motives. ### [Julian Lowe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/characters/julian_lowe) _friendship_ Joe Gilligan and Julian Lowe share a casual, supportive friendship as fellow soldiers. ### [Cecily Saunders](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/characters/cecily_saunders) _social_ Cecily Saunders and Joe Gilligan are polite acquaintances with no deep connection. ### [Captain Green](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/characters/captain_green) _professional_ Captain Green and Joe Gilligan interact as military superior and subordinate with mutual respect. ## In the story ### [Soldiers' Pay](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/soldiers-pay) A fellow soldier, providing a grounded perspective on the war experience. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/i) A fellow soldier who accompanies Donald and provides a blunt, soldier's perspective on the war and its aftermath. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/i) A drunken soldier called Yaphank, engaging in chaotic behavior on the train. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/ii) Traveling with Mahon, protective and talkative, shares drinks with Lowe and Margaret. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/iii) Enters drunk, supporting Cadet Lowe. He reveals he has seen Mahon's fiancée's letters and predicts she will reject Mahon. He proposes marriage to Margaret in a moment of drunken sincerity. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/v) Tends to Lowe's hangover with whisky, teases him about his 'conquest,' and announces they are also going home. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/iii) Reads Lowe's letter; discusses Cecily's intentions with Margaret; helps Donald with clothing at the rector's request. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/iv) With Donald when Mr. Saunders visits. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/vii) Sprawled on a divan in the study, smoking and reading. ### [Chapter X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/x) Observes Jones; blocks him from entering Donald's room. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/ii) Acts as Donald's protective majordomo, discouraging gawkers and expressing his frustration with the townspeople. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/iii) Accompanies Margaret to meet the specialist and is present during the discussion. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/iv) Talks with Margaret about Cecily and his own feelings for Margaret; struggles with his emotions. ### [Chapter VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/vi) Gilligan mounts the steps onto the veranda with Mrs. Powers. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/vii) Assists Donald with dressing and reading; is aware of Donald's blindness before the diagnosis. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/iv) Crosses the lawn, comments on Mrs. Burney's son, and interacts with Donald. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/vii) Gilligan sits beside the negro driver in the car. ### [Chapter X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/x) Enthusiastically watches the dancers, interacts with the wallflowers, and brings Madden to meet Mrs. Powers. ### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/xii) Remains with Donald Mahon, commenting on Cecily's behavior and declining to dance. ### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/xiv) Rides with Mrs. Powers and Madden, remarks on her dancing. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/i) Engages in a supportive conversation with Donald about his marriage plans and removes Donald's glasses to ease his discomfort. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/ii) Likely the writer 'J.' who expresses romantic feelings and plans for the future. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/iii) Jealous and protective, he expresses concern about Cecily's motives and his feelings for Margaret. ### [VII: Voices](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/vii-voices) Bitterly reflects on dying men getting women he cannot have. ### [Chapter X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/x) Eats with his usual informal appetite at dinner. ### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/xiii) Silently helps Mahon after the wedding; initially bleak and combative but softens when Mrs. Mahon speaks to him, regaining a trace of his old humor. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/ii) Still sleeping on a cot at the foot of Donald's bed, vigilant and finding the deaths ominous. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/iii) Companionably walks with Mrs. Mahon, speaking with sour affection and pointing out the mockingbird. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/v) Reads Rousseau's Confessions to Donald, addressed as 'Doctor' by the specialist. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/vi) Mentioned in Julian's regards. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/vii) Engages in a physical fight with Jones after verbal provocations, then returns to sit with Mrs. Mahon. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/v) Gilligan accompanies Margaret to the station, helps with her bags, and engages in a heartfelt discussion about luck and love. He is hurt by her rejection but remains devoted. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/vi) Gilligan drinks moonshine with a stranger, resolves to find Margaret in Atlanta, and later fights Januarius Jones outside Emmy's window. ### [Chapter VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/viii) Gilligan tries to fight Jones but fails, then walks with the rector and confesses his disappointment in love. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/characters/joe_gilligan - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/characters