The Damnation of Theron Ware · Character
Jeremiah Madden
A small, gray-whiskered Irish immigrant whose fortune and buried children have made him both the town's benefactor and its quiet tragedy.
supporting
Also known as Jerry Madden, old Jeremiah, Mr. Madden
First appearance: part i ii
As a supporting figure in The Damnation of Theron Ware, Jeremiah Madden is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.
Portrayed as a humble, hardworking Irish immigrant who rose from famine survivor to wealthy wheelwright; he is unpretentious, meditative, and devoted to his family and work.
Madden is the wealthy Catholic layman whose money and goodwill underwrite much of the town's religious and civic life, and whose household centers on his brilliant daughter Celia. He has outlived a dozen children to the damp Western air, and the fear that Celia may share their fate hangs over his generosity. He matters because his fortune, his faith, and his losses make him the human knot tying together the Protestant minister, the Catholic priest, and the woman who will unsettle Theron's certainties.
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Character Web
10 connectionsA slice of how Jeremiah Madden sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.
Relationship types
- Other
Character groups
- Theron's Octavius Circle
- Minor Community Figures
+5 more in the full Character Web
Open in readerNarrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
In this passage, Theron reaches his emotional and psychological peak by idolizing the kiss as a divine, all-co…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingIn the story
Jeremiah Madden appears across 2 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.
Chapter companion notes
Spoil-light check-ins for Jeremiah Madden unlock in the free preview.
See Jeremiah Madden in part i ii