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Hulga (Joy) Hopewell
Mrs. Hopewell’s adult daughter and the story’s protagonist. She is a highly educated woman with a Ph.D. in philosophy. She contrasts with her mother, whom she sees as her intellectual inferior. As an adult, she changed her name from Joy to Hulga. She has a prosthetic leg due to a childhood hunting accident. She also suffers from a weak heart, which keeps her trapped at home with her mother. She plans to seduce Manley Pointer and wake him up to the cold realities of the world.
Read an in-depth analysis of Hulga (Joy) Hopewell.
Manley Pointer
A conman and the story’s antagonist. He arrives at the Hopewell home, attempting to sell Bibles. He quickly assesses the Hopewell women, gaining sympathy and a dinner invitation due to his stories of a tragic childhood and a weak heart. Although he fails to sell any Bibles, he hopes to turn his loss into gain with Hulga. He presents himself as a simple, good-hearted Christian, but he is a genuine sinner.
Read an in-depth analysis of Manley Pointer.
Mrs. Hopewell
Hulga’s mother. She owns the farm on which they live. She employs Mrs. Freeman to run the farm’s operations and her husband to do the farming. She has an optimistic view of life and believes in the inherent goodness of country people. She worries about her daughter but fails to understand her needs.
Read an in-depth analysis of Mrs. Hopewell.
Mrs. Freeman
Mrs. Hopewell’s employee. She is a tenant farmer, hired to manage the Hopewell farm’s operations. Her mind is like a simple machine with only three gears: forward, neutral, and reverse. She believes that she is never wrong. She watches the Hopewell family and silently judges them. Mrs. Hopewell thinks Mrs. Freeman is “good country people.” She is a stereotypical busybody, very interested in what everyone else does and says.
Mr. Freeman
Mrs. Hopewell’s employee and Mrs. Freeman’s husband. He is a tenant farmer, hired to raise crops or livestock on the Hopewell farm.
Glynesse Freeman
The older of Mrs. Freeman’s two daughters. She is eighteen years old and unmarried, although she has several suitors. Harvey Hill, a chiropractic student, has asked her to marry him. She has not accepted because he wants to be married by a judge while Glynesse wants a church wedding. Hulga nicknamed her Glycerin.
Carramae Freeman
The younger of Mrs. Freeman’s two daughters. She is fifteen years old, married, and pregnant. Her mother gossips graphically about her with Mrs. Hopewell. Hulga has nicknamed her Caramel.
