Main Characters Analysis

I’ve progressed significantly further through the book since my last post, and I believe I’ve encountered most of the main characters within the story.

Jenny Fields

Jenny Fields is the mother of T.S. Garp. She worked as a nurse for most of her life because she found nursing to be a worthwhile occupation, amongst a world filled with too many “nonsense” jobs.

“Nursing was the first thing I took to, and the first thing I ever wanted to do. It simply seemed very practical…” Pg. 186

Despite eventually moving away from her nursing profession and becoming a writer, her motherly support and care for those around her continued on through her life. “In Garp’s opinion, his mother never stopped being a nurse.” Pg. 186

Another major trait Jenny possesses is her feministic viewpoint. Despite claiming to not know what the word meant, Jenny’s powerful sense of independence and self-determination proved her to be an excellent role model for women everywhere who were struggling during the time period. A perfect example of Jenny’s character is shown in her reasoning behind writing her book in the first place, “She said shyly that she’d only thought she made the right choice about how to live her life, and since it had not been a popular choice, she’d felt goaded into saying something to defend it.”

Jenny was down to Earth, and didn’t set out in hopes of recognition from the public. She simply wanted to be independent, respected, and to make the right choices, all tasks she clearly accomplished.

T.S. Garp

Born without a Father, and a less than perfect mother, Garp has had his work cut out from him since day one. Despite the negative factors, Garp grew up to be an intelligent and certainly unique person. With his dark sense of humor, sarcasm, and wit, Garp becomes an entertaining centerpiece to John Irving’s novel. Garp continuously seems to bare resemblances to Holden Caulfield. (Not only with his pessimistic view of aspects of life, but even down to his relationship with hookers. I never thought I’d read two books where both protagonists are involved in paying a prostitute to simply chat with them.)

During his late teenage years and his early twenties, Garp was one of the most self-disciplined and intelligent people you’ll ever find.

“What made Garp older and wiser than his nineteen years had nothing to do with his experience or with what he had learned. He had some instincts, some determination, better than average patience; he loved to work hard.” Pg. 156

These “instincts” and “determination” would be what propelled Garp through his life, and enabled him to be successful in near any task when he set his heart to it.

Helen Holm

Helen Holm was the daughter of the wrestling coach at Garp’s school, and becomes Garp’s first love interest. Helen is a very independent person, much like Jenny, and she’s got an ego to match. One thing Garp could always count on Helen for was her honesty. Helen would be brutally honest and give Garp her opinion about the writing he had done. Thus, Helen motivated Garp and provided him with goals that assisted in moving his life in the direction he wanted to take it. Helen and Garp eventually get married and have a child.

That covers the three primary characters that have remained in the story throughout its bulk so far. As it progresses I plan to create another post focusing on the side characters, and their overall affect on Garp.