# John Allen — Spoon River Anthology character guide

> John Allen in Spoon River Anthology by Edgar Lee Masters.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** hog-eyed Allen, the hog-eyed Allen

**First appearance:** 0005-ollie-mcgee

## Snapshot

Known around Spoon River as "hog-eyed Allen," a violent and feared figure whose rough reputation precedes him into every room he enters.

## Who they are

John Allen belongs to the town's rougher element, a man whose nickname and temper mark him as someone to avoid. His dealings skirt the edge of the law, and the community's wariness of him says as much about Spoon River's tolerance for menace as it does about his own character. He matters early on as a reminder that the town's respectable surface rests on a foundation of fear and silence.

## Relationships

### [Minerva Jones](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/spoon_river_anthology_se/characters/minerva_jones)

_social_

John Allen was a fellow townsman who pitied Minerva Jones but could not save her from disgrace.

### [Harry Wilmans](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/spoon_river_anthology_se/characters/harry_wilmans)

_friendship_

Harry Wilmans and John Allen were comrades who shared disillusionment after returning from war.

### [Thomas Rhodes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/spoon_river_anthology_se/characters/thomas_rhodes)

_rivalry_

John Allen opposed Thomas Rhodes' political corruption, leading to bitter enmity.

### [Flossie Cabanis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/spoon_river_anthology_se/characters/flossie_cabanis)

_social_

Flossie Cabanis and John Allen were acquaintances who moved in different social circles, aware of each other's secrets.

## In the story

### [Barney Hainsfeather](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/spoon_river_anthology_se/chapters/barney-hainsfeather)

Mistaken for Barney Hainsfeather in the train wreck, sent to the Hebrew Cemetery at Chicago.

### [The Spooniad](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/spoon_river_anthology_se/chapters/the-spooniad)

Hog-eyed Allen, champion of A. D. Blood, terrorizes the liberals and fights Bengal Mike.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/spoon_river_anthology_se/characters/john_allen
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/spoon_river_anthology_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/spoon_river_anthology_se/characters