Empire Falls: Analysis of Major Characters
"Empire Falls: Analysis of Major Characters" delves into the intricate lives of the residents of the fictional small town of Empire Falls, Maine, through the lens of its central character, Miles Roby. As the manager of the Empire Grill diner, Miles grapples with his aspirations of leaving the town behind for a fresh start on Martha's Vineyard, all while wrestling with the burdens of his family's past. Key figures in the narrative include Francine Whiting, the manipulative owner of the diner who maintains control over Miles' future, and C. B. Whiting, her deceased husband, whose legacy and personal struggles have left a lasting impact on the community.
The story also highlights Miles' relationships with his family, particularly with his daughter, Christina "Tick" Roby, who faces her own challenges as a teenager dealing with emotional turmoil and societal ostracism. Other notable characters include his estranged wife Janine, who is navigating her newfound independence, and David Roby, Miles’ brother, who brings a unique culinary perspective to the diner. The dynamics between these characters reveal themes of regret, aspiration, and the weight of familial connections, providing a rich tapestry for readers to explore. Overall, the character analysis in "Empire Falls" offers insight into the human experience within a tightly-knit community, portraying the struggles and resilience of its inhabitants.
Empire Falls: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Richard Russo
First published: 2001
Genre: Novel
Locale: Empire Falls, Maine
Plot: Realism
Time: 2001
Miles Roby, the forty-two-year-old manager of the Empire Grill diner who longs to escape from the small industrial town of Empire Falls, Maine. He is a decent yet stubborn man whose complacency often leads him to suffer in private. During his senior year of college, Miles was summoned home by Francine Whiting, the owner of the diner, so he could take care of his dying mother, Grace. Twenty years later, Miles begins to uncover secrets from his long-dead mother's past. Francine had promised that if Miles managed the Empire Grill until her death, he would then inherit the diner; while he once hoped for this, he now dreams of opening a bookstore on Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts, where he travels once a year with his daughter, whom he loves very much. Although the diner is losing money, Francine insists on keeping it open. Following her death, Miles leaves for Martha's Vineyard with his daughter. When he returns to Empire Falls, he becomes a partner in a small business.
Francine Robideaux Whiting, the cunning and intelligent owner of the Empire Grill. After the death of her husband, C. B. Whiting, she became the wealthiest person in Maine. Although Francine is leaving the diner to Miles in her will, she does not let him forget that while she is still alive, he is her employee. Despite the financial failings of the Empire Grill, she refuses to close it and will not make any move to increase its profits. Ultimately, she drowns when the river floods her property and sweeps her away.
Charles Beaumont “C. B.” Whiting, Francine's deceased husband, a wealthy textile tycoon who started many of the businesses in Empire Falls, including the shirt factory where Grace Roby used to work. He was a romantic man with an interest in poetry. C. B. was highly attracted to Grace and once took her and Miles, then nine years old, to Martha's Vineyard, where he attempted to court her. Grace would have left her husband for C. B., but she was pregnant with her second child. This rejection, along with other problems in his personal life, drove C. B. to commit suicide. He had big plans for the town, but after his suicide, Francine took over his fortune, and many of the businesses he had started closed their doors. The history and future of Empire Falls are strongly linked to C. B. Whiting.
Grace Roby, Miles's deceased mother, who was maimed in a car accident and later died of cancer. The laziness of her husband, Max, forced Grace to work long hours at the local shirt factory in order to provide for her sons. She had a brief affair with her boss, C. B. Whiting, and she would have left Max for him had she not been pregnant with David at the time. She also found love on Martha's Vineyard with a mysterious man named Charles Mayne. More than anything, Grace wished for Miles to escape Empire Falls and its small-minded population. Her decisions in life have a significant effect on Miles after her death, and she becomes a somewhat angelic figure in his mind.
Christina “Tick” Roby, Miles's bright, artistic sixteen-year-old daughter and a part-time employee of the Empire Grill. After breaking up with her abusive boyfriend, Zack Minty, she is ostracized by her peers and driven into depression. At lunch, she is forced to sit with John Voss, an emotionally disturbed youth. Miles cares for her very much, but her mother, Janine, was awarded custody in the divorce. Tick loathes her new stepfather-to-be, Walt, who frequents the diner to taunt Miles.
Janine Roby, Miles's self-obsessed and humorless former wife who left him after twenty years in a passionless marriage. She has recently lost a lot of weight, encouraged by her fiancé, Walt, who owns a fitness club. When she learns that Walt is both older and less wealthy than he had led her to believe, she decides to go ahead with the marriage anyway to spite her mother, who thinks she never should have left Miles. Janine and Walt share Miles's old house while Miles is forced to live in a small room above the diner.
David Roby, Miles's younger brother, whose arm was maimed in a drunken car accident. Now sober, he works as a cook at the Empire Grill, where he consistently brings in business with innovative ethnic dishes. After his food begins to draw a college crowd, he urges Miles to ask Francine to expand the business and apply for a liquor license. He also encourages Miles's dream of buying a bookstore.
Max Roby, Miles and David's abrasive, opportunistic father. He is a disheveled man with poor personal hygiene who has little regard for anyone's feelings. An itinerant house painter by trade, Max never turns down a handout. In order to achieve his dream of moving to Key West, Florida, he talks a senile priest into stealing money from the local parish church.
John Voss, a lonely, emotionally disturbed classmate of Tick. He was abandoned by his parents and now lives in poverty with his grandmother. John is constantly ridiculed and bullied by his peers, especially Zack Minty and his friends. He eventually snaps under the torment, bringing a gun to school and shooting several classmates.
Charlie Mayne, Grace's enigmatic former lover, whom she used to meet on Martha's Vineyard. He is a mysterious figure who dominates Miles's childhood memories.
Cindy Whiting, Francine's emotionally fragile daughter, who was permanently disabled in a car accident. She is in love with Miles, although he does not return her feelings, and has twice tried to kill herself over him.