The Bulwark: Analysis of Major Characters
"The Bulwark: Analysis of Major Characters" offers a deep exploration of a family grappling with Quaker values amidst personal and societal turmoil. Central to the narrative is Solon Barnes, a stern Quaker businessman whose rigid adherence to principles leads him to neglect the spiritual tenets of his faith, specifically the concept of the "Inner Light." Following a family tragedy, he undergoes a profound transformation, aided by his sensitive daughter Etta, who becomes a crucial support in his later years. The character dynamics reveal contrasting perspectives within the family, from Solon's respected father, Rufus, to the spoiled younger son, Stewart, whose reckless behavior culminates in tragedy.
Other key figures include Benecia Wallin Barnes, Solon's devout wife, and their various children, each representing different facets of Quaker upbringing and individualism. Etta emerges as a central figure, balancing her own aspirations with familial duty, particularly in her relationship with the artist Willard Kane. The broader family context includes relatives such as Phoebe Kimber and the tragic figure Psyche Tanzer, whose death significantly impacts the Barnes family. This character analysis illustrates the complexities of moral integrity, familial obligation, and the quest for redemption within a deeply intertwined community.
The Bulwark: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Theodore Dreiser
First published: 1946
Genre: Novel
Locale: Dukla and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; New York City; and Atlantic City
Plot: Character study
Time: 1890 to the mid-1920's
Solon Barnes, an upright, severe Quaker businessman who raises his children in strict accordance with Quaker moral principles. A family tragedy brings him to the realization that his concern for business and strict standards has obscured for him the central “Inner Light” of the Quaker faith. With the help of his daughter Etta, he regains his serenity during his last days.
Rufus Barnes, Solon's respected Quaker father and the founder of the family fortune.
Hannah Barnes, Solon's upright Quaker mother and the sister of Phoebe Kimber.
Benecia Wallin Barnes, Solon's quiet, religious wife.
Isobel Barnes, Solon's studious, unattractive oldest daughter.
Orville Barnes, Solon's severe, respectable elder son.
Dorothea Barnes, Solon's beautiful second daughter.
Etta Barnes, Solon's sensitive, intelligent youngest daughter. An individualist, she becomes the mistress of an artist, Willard Kane. She leaves her lover when Solon needs her and becomes her father's mainstay in his last days.
Stewart Barnes, Solon's spoiled, unprincipled younger son. Interested only in the pursuit of lower-class girls, he becomes involved in the death of Psyche Tanzer. Charged with rape and murder, he commits suicide in his jail cell.
Phoebe Kimber, Hannah Barnes's sister.
Cynthia Barnes, Solon's sister.
VolidaLaPorte, Etta Barnes's unconventional friend.
Victor Bruge and Lester Jennings, reckless friends of Stewart Barnes charged along with him in the rape and murder of Psyche Tanzer.
Psyche Tanzer, a young girl killed by “drops” administered by Victor Bruge.
Rhoda Kimber and Laura Kimber, Phoebe's daughters.
Justus Wallin, Benecia Barnes's father.
Hester Wallin, Justus' sister.
Willard Kane, Etta Barnes's artist lover.