Soldiers’ Pay · Character

Madden

A sergeant with a no-nonsense attitude.

minor

Also known as Mr. Madden, Sergeant Madden

First appearance: iv

Madden's tie to Captain Green is one of the pressures that moves Soldiers’ Pay—worth meeting in the text, not only on a cast list.

First Sergeant and old friend of Green; tries to maintain order but feels the distance between them; refuses Green's handshake.

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With Captain Green (professional): Captain Green and Madden have a formal professional relationship as military colleagues. With Captain Green (professional): Captain Green and Madden have a formal professional…

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The fuller portrait of Madden sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.

See Madden in iv

Character Web

21 connections

A slice of how Madden sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Professional
Other

Character groups

Central characters and family
Protagonist
Local professionals and townspeople

+16 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This excerpt is the dramatic climax because it marks the emotional and psychological peak where Mrs. Powers, t…

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Relationships

Captain Green
professional · positive
Captain Green and Madden have a formal professional relationship as military colleagues. How this plays out →
Captain Green
professional · positive
Captain Green and Madden have a formal professional relationship as military colleagues. How this plays out →
Captain Green
professional · positive
Captain Green and Madden have a formal professional relationship as military colleagues. How this plays out →

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Madden in iv

In the story

Madden appears across 8 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

I
First Sergeant and old friend of Green; tries to maintain order but feels the distance between them; refuses Green's handshake.
II
Sergeant who gets along well with officers and men, present during the gas scare and shooting.
III
Sergeant Madden reflects on Captain Green and the battle at Cantigny, where he fights and is wounded.
V
The officer Mrs. Burney speaks with; he patiently reassures her and later recalls the traumatic war event.
VIII
Rufus Madden, a calm, competent veteran, is asked by Mr. Rivers to sit with Dough so Rivers can dance with Cecily.
Chapter X
Meets Mrs. Powers and Gilligan at the dance, remembers a war scene.
XII
Dances with Margaret Powers after she invites him.
XIV
Accompanies Mrs. Powers, hushes talk about Powers, watches over her at the dance.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for Madden unlock in the free preview.

See Madden in iv

See Madden in I