Tender Mercies: Analysis of Major Characters
"Tender Mercies" explores the complexities of its major characters, primarily focusing on Dan Courser, his wife Laura, and their children Jonathan and Hallie. Dan, a skilled shop teacher from a troubled background, grapples with guilt and the need for self-affirmation following an accident that leaves Laura, his quadriplegic wife, dependent on him. Laura, who comes from a wealthy family and was once an avid dancer, struggles with her new reality and seeks dignity in her helplessness, often retreating into her thoughts to escape painful memories. Their son, Jonathan, feels the weight of his mother’s condition and tries to support her, while their daughter Hallie copes by withdrawing, showcasing the impact of trauma on family dynamics. The narrative also delves into the reactions of Laura's parents and sister, who embody different responses to crisis, illustrating the varied ways individuals confront grief and responsibility. The interactions among these characters highlight themes of guilt, identity, and the search for redemption within the framework of familial love and obligation.
Tender Mercies: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Rosellen Brown
First published: 1978
Genre: Novel
Locale: A small town in New Hampshire, with flashbacks in New York City and Boston, Massachusetts
Plot: Domestic realism
Time: The present
Dan Courser, the husband of Laura and primary narrator. He is the father of two children and a graduate of the local vocational college. He is very skilled with his hands and has worked for seven years as a high school shop teacher. He came from a poor home with an abusive and alcoholic father. His mother, who was the best part of that unpleasant home, worked nights in the local paper mill. As an adolescent, he was constantly in trouble for driving while drunk, for vandalizing summer homes, and for suspected paternity. He possessed a “macho” philosophy about women: No girl was too bad for him, and all girls wanted him. His high school English teacher described his style as “braggadocio,” a term Dan considered a compliment. Dan thought he could acquire whatever he wanted, like Aladdin with his lamp. His courtship of Laura forced him to “chasten” his impulses, to grow and to change, although he felt he could never catch up with her after his ultimate flamboyant act, which turned Laura into a quadriplegic. Throughout the novel, Dan struggles with his own needs, with the feeling that he must constantly prove himself, and with tremendous guilt for the accident that disabled his wife.
Laura Shurrock Courser, a quadriplegic wife and mother. She has thick reddish hair and a body shaped by dancing, an activity she loved before her accident. Dan describes Laura as not beautiful, but earnest with a no-nonsense nose. She is restrained; she dealt with her anger as a child by holding her breath until she fainted. During her courtship with Dan, she was patient with him and a good listener, unrepulsed by the stories of his father. She came from a well-to-do Boston family and attended Wellesley. She considers herself a “bad girl” and thinks she married badly because she, like Dan, rejected the conformity of her lifestyle and expected him to change her way of living. After the accident, the degree to which he did change her life strikes her as ironic. Laura attempts to deal with her helplessness with dignity and pride. Through stream-of-consciousness monologues that frequently are accounts of dreams, Laura reveals her reactions to her condition and her longing to escape to a place inside her head that does not hold poisonous memories.
Jonathan Courser, the older of Dan and Laura's two young children. He tries hard not to be embarrassed by his mother and helps as much as he can. He becomes very protective of her when she and his father separate briefly.
Hallie Courser, Dan and Laura's daughter. She has difficulty adjusting to her mother's condition and frequently deals with it by withdrawing. While in New York City during her mother's hospitalization, Hallie disappears overnight and never reveals the circumstances of her absence.
Mr. Shurrock and Mrs. Shurrock, Laura's parents. They are conservative Bostonians who rush to Laura's aid after the accident, accusing Dan and providing money for Laura's care. They are not strong enough, however, to deal with the practical needs of a person as incapacitated as Laura, and when Dan leaves, they are unable to cope.
Carol Shurrock, Laura's sister. She is the most verbal in her condemnation of Dan, refusing to release him from blame. She also fails in an attempt to assume total care of Laura and retreats into drugs.
John Courser, Dan's older brother. He is more attentive to Laura after the accident than he had ever been before, creating some jealousy in Dan. The relationship between the two brothers has always been physically abusive. The beating John administers in the end seems to absolve Dan and allows himtoreturntoLaura.