Character guide

June Henreddy

major

Also known as June, Oh June, little June, Zoroastrianism June

June moves through hospital wards, radical meetings, and her mother's parlor with the same reckless curiosity, laughing joyfully even as she bathes the dying. She insists she is a free and emancipated woman, yet confesses to Adele that she is still in love and wants Dick, marriage, and babies. Her pride—refusing to ask Mother Grace for help even when caught—is both her armor and her trap, and it drives the book's central reckoning between independence and desire.

Dick Wemys

major

Also known as Dick

Dick slides through life with a happy-go-lucky ease June loves even as she braces for his brutality, calling their life together an affair that must end. He has told her plainly he will never consent to a child and will leave the moment one shows. Because June started the whole thing—chasing him, clinging to him—she excuses him in advance, and his absence becomes the pressure that forces her to stand alone.

Mother Grace

supporting

Also known as Grace, Mother

Mother Grace once called June a comfort and now wonders what has gotten into her eldest children, watching her daughter flaunt ideas in her face. She powders her dimpled shoulders, sips oh-be-joyful, and adds mentally, 'And so shall I,' to every warning about consequences. Her refusal to be merely a mother—and June's refusal to be merely a daughter—sets the terms of the book's most intimate argument.

Adele

supporting

Also known as Little Adele

Adele still in grammar school, she shares the long evenings curled on the sofa with Poe and Stevenson, and the cold dash up to icy beds. On the dark walk home from the wards, June can ask her 'How many times have you fallen in love?' and phrase her tumult in ridiculous terms without betraying herself. She is the one June tells the moral of the story to—that women are more interested in men than in ideas.

Hugh Brace

supporting

Also known as Mr. Hugh Brace, Hugh, Mr. Brace, Brace

Hugh Brace moves through June's orbit as a friend and possible suitor, the kind of man whose reliability throws Dick's irresponsibility into relief. He belongs to the world of work and ordinary decency June keeps half-dismissing while she chases a love she knows will end badly. His patience matters because it makes her choice—and her pride—cost something visible.

Miss Billy Barton

supporting

Also known as Billy, Willie

Billy Barton moves through June's world with the easy independence June admires and half-envies, unbothered by the proprieties that dog a young woman's reputation. She is part of the circle of modern, unfettered people June meets through newspapers and radical causes, the ones who make freedom look like a gown one can simply put on. Her presence sharpens June's growing suspicion that her own emancipation is a trapping rather than a truth.

Regina

minor

A friend or acquaintance, part of June's social world.

Mr. Armand

minor

A minor character, possibly a teacher or family friend.

Ivan

minor

A friend or acquaintance, part of June's circle.

Daniel Sloane

minor

Also known as Dan, Daniel

A friend or potential romantic interest.

Glubb

minor

Also known as young Glubb

A minor character, possibly a servant or local.

Mr. Henreddy

minor

Also known as the worthy Mr. Henreddy

June's father, a somewhat distant figure.

Chester

minor

A minor character, possibly a suitor or friend.

Mrs. Wittle

minor

Also known as Wittle

A neighbor or acquaintance of the family.

Ellen Winter

minor

Also known as Ellen

A friend or acquaintance from June's past.

Jim Pickering

minor

Also known as Jim

A minor character, possibly a friend or colleague.

Helen Drummond

minor

Also known as Nellie

A friend or acquaintance, possibly a relative of Grace.

Adam Sunquist

minor

A minor character, possibly a friend or colleague.

Jane Worth

minor

A minor character, possibly a friend or acquaintance.

Ida

minor

A friend or acquaintance, often a confidante to June.

Miss Hubbard

minor

A teacher or older acquaintance.

Miss Prince

minor

A teacher or authority figure.

Billy Burton

minor

Also known as Billy

A minor character, possibly a childhood friend.

Tess

minor

Also known as Terry Wode, Terry

A friend or acquaintance, possibly a love interest.

Masefield

minor

A minor character, possibly a poet or acquaintance.

Granny

minor

June's grandmother, a family elder.

Grace Drummond

minor

A friend or acquaintance, possibly a relative.

Morrison

minor

A minor character, possibly a servant or colleague.

Ray

minor

A minor character, possibly a friend or suitor.

Miss Worth

minor

Also known as little Miss Worth

A minor character, possibly a teacher or acquaintance.

Kenneth Graves

minor

Also known as Kenneth

A minor character, possibly a friend or suitor.

Mr. O'Grady

minor

A minor character, possibly a teacher or acquaintance.

Mr. Lord

minor

A minor character, possibly a landlord or acquaintance.

Old Mrs. Angell

minor

A minor character, possibly a neighbor or elder.

Dr. Weiss

minor

A doctor, possibly a family physician.

Henrietta

minor

A minor character, possibly a friend or acquaintance.

Miss Henreddy

minor

A relative of June, possibly an aunt or cousin.

Miss Kelley

minor

A minor character, possibly a teacher or acquaintance.

Mr. Fenton

minor

A minor character, possibly a suitor or colleague.

Mrs. Burns

minor

Also known as goodness Mrs. Burns

A minor character, possibly a neighbor or acquaintance.

Lora McAlister

minor

Also known as Lora

A minor character, possibly a friend or acquaintance.

Mr. Liscinderella

minor

Also known as Liscinderella

A minor character, possibly a teacher or eccentric.

Tony

minor

A minor character, possibly a friend or servant.

Polly Pepper

minor

Also known as Mary, Mimi

A minor character, possibly a friend or acquaintance.

Mrs. Gunther

minor

Also known as a Mrs. Gunther

A minor character, possibly a neighbor or acquaintance.

Conrad

minor

A minor character, possibly a friend or suitor.

Miss Drummond

minor

A minor character, possibly a relative of Grace or Helen.

Dave

minor

Also known as David

A minor character, possibly a friend or acquaintance.

Dr. Wittle

minor

A doctor, possibly related to Mrs. Wittle.

Mary Adams

minor

Also known as Ann

A minor character, possibly a friend or acquaintance.

Sadie Spielberger

minor

Also known as Sadie

A minor character, possibly a friend or acquaintance.

Little Ruth

minor

Also known as Ruth

A minor character, possibly a child or younger acquaintance.

Dr. Jane Pringle

minor

Also known as Dr. Pringle

A doctor, possibly a friend or colleague.

Harvey

minor

A minor character, possibly a friend or acquaintance.

Uncle Charlie

minor

Also known as Charlie

June's uncle, a family member.

Cathern

minor

A minor character, possibly a servant or acquaintance.

Mrs. Warzinsky

minor

A minor character, possibly a neighbor or acquaintance.

Irene

minor

A minor character, possibly a friend or acquaintance.

Miss Smythe

minor

A minor character, possibly a teacher or acquaintance.

Sarah Lauthier

minor

Also known as Sarah

A minor character, possibly a friend or acquaintance.

Mrs. Cummins

minor

A minor character, possibly a neighbor or acquaintance.

Edwin

minor

A minor character, possibly a friend or acquaintance.

Edith Burns

minor

A minor character, possibly a relative of Mrs. Burns.

Beatrice

minor

A minor character, possibly a friend or acquaintance.

Miss Andrews

minor

A minor character, possibly a teacher or acquaintance.