The Country Girls Trilogy and Epilogue: Analysis of Major Characters
"The Country Girls Trilogy and Epilogue" explores the intertwined lives of Caithleen (Kate) Brady and Bridget "Baba" Brennan, two young women navigating the complexities of love, friendship, and societal expectations in mid-20th century Ireland. Kate, a resilient yet emotionally fragile character, faces significant hardships, including the loss of her mother and turbulent relationships with men, particularly with the wealthy Mr. Gentleman and later, Eugene Gaillard. Baba, initially portrayed as manipulative and self-centered, evolves throughout the story, wrestling with her own marital challenges and the repercussions of her past choices.
The narrative examines themes of longing, betrayal, and personal growth, emphasizing the characters' struggles in a patriarchal society. Supporting characters, such as Kate's abusive father, her nurturing mother, and Baba's discontented parents, further enrich the storyline, illustrating the characters' backgrounds and motivations. The trilogy culminates in a poignant epilogue that reflects on the enduring bond between Kate and Baba, revealing the complexities of their friendship as they confront their past. Ultimately, the story is a compelling exploration of womanhood, resilience, and the quest for identity against the backdrop of social constraints.
The Country Girls Trilogy and Epilogue: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Edna O'Brien
First published: 1986 (The Country Girls, 1960; The Lonely Girl, 1962; Girls in Their Married Bliss, 1964; Epilogue, 1986)
Genre: Novel
Locale: Rural Ireland, Dublin, and England
Plot: Psychological realism
Time: The 1930's to the 1960's
Caithleen (Kate) Brady, a young Irish country girl. At the age of fourteen, Kate finds romance in the person of Mr. Gentleman. That year, however, her mother dies, and Kate finds herself homeless. Kate spends three relatively happy years at a convent school after winning a scholarship to go there. When she is expelled, she loses her chance to attend college. Instead, with her friend Baba, she goes to Dublin, where she works in a grocery store. When Mr. Gentleman breaks off their love affair, Kate thinks her life is over.
Bridget “Baba” Brennan, a pretty, spoiled young woman. As a child, she uses Kate as a target for her cruelty; at the convent, she finds Kate to be a useful confidante and confederate. Selfishly, Baba decides to get Kate, as well as herself, expelled so that the two of them can move to Dublin. In Dublin, she enrolls in a business course, but she is really interested only in men and what she can get out of them. After contracting tuberculosis, Baba leaves for a sana-torium.
Mrs. Brady (Mama), Kate's mother, a loving, devout woman. When she learns that her husband is about to lose the farm, she goes out to borrow money. On her way home, she is accidentally drowned.
Mr. Brady (Dada), Kate's father, an irresponsible, abusive drunkard. He sells his property to pay his debts.
Jacques de Maurier, called Mr. Gentleman, a wealthy, middle-aged French solicitor. After courting Kate for years, he breaks off with her without ever consummating their relationship.
Martha Brennan, Baba's mother, an attractive woman who is bored with her husband. She amuses herself by drinking and flirting. Martha is kind to Kate, giving her a home after the death of her mother.
Mr. Brennan, Baba's father, a veterinarian. He sometimes hints to Kate that he wishes Baba were more like her. When Kate's father hits her, Mr. Brennan throws him out of the house.
Caithleen (Kate) Brady,, who, after two years in Dublin, meets Eugene Gaillard. Dragged home by her father, Kate escapes and goes to live with Gaillard at his country house. When her father's second attempt to reclaim her fails, Kate settles in, pretending to be Gaillard's wife. The lovers quarrel constantly. Finally, Kate leaves Gaillard and moves to London.
Eugene Gaillard, a film director who is separated from his wife. Though charmed by Kate's youth and innocence, Gaillard is too controlled not to be annoyed by her emotional outbursts. He is also concerned about his wife's threats to deny him future contacts with their daughter. When Kate leaves, he does not pursue her.
Bridget “Baba” Brennan Durack, who is now living in London with her husband. Over his protests, she keeps going to Kate's rescue. When she finds herself pregnant after a one-night stand, Baba turns to Kate for advice, tells Frank, and has the baby.
Frank Durack, Baba's husband, a wealthy contractor. He sees the unstable Kate as the real danger to his marriage and social standing. He has to face the fact that his wife is pregnant by another man. He agrees to accept the child as his but takes refuge in alcohol.
Caithleen (Kate) Brady, who became pregnant during a second involvement with Gaillard. They were married. The marriage, however, is a failure. Kate has an affair, Gaillard finds out, and she leaves him, taking their son, Cash. Emotionally fragile, she lives for Cash. After Gaillard takes him away, she has herself sterilized so that she will have no more children.
Eugene Gaillard, Kate's husband. Although he loves Cash, he hates Kate bitterly. To get him away from his mother, he snatches Cash from school and takes him to Fiji.
Cash Gaillard, the son of Kate and Eugene Gaillard, a pawn in the conflict between them.
Maura, a young girl employed by the Gaillards who takes Kate's place. She goes to Fiji with Eugene and Cash.
Bridget “Baba” Brennan Durack, who during the past twenty years has had a daughter and seen her turn out as defiant as her mother. Baba has never been faithful to Frank, but since his stroke, she has nursed him devotedly. After being out of touch for many years, she and Kate again became friends. Baba is fulfilling her final obligation to her friend, taking her in a casket to be buried.
Caithleen (Kate) Brady Gaillard, who won her legal battle to have Cash returned to England but lost him again when he went to Harvard. After being rejected by another married man, she killed herself.