Independence Day: Analysis of Major Characters
"Independence Day: Analysis of Major Characters" delves into the intricate relationships and emotional struggles of the characters within the narrative, primarily focusing on Frank Bascombe, a real estate agent navigating the complexities of mid-life. As the narrator, Frank embodies existential angst and emotional detachment, stemming from personal tragedies, including the loss of his son to Reye's Syndrome. His journey during the Fourth of July holiday illustrates a gradual shift from despair to a glimmer of hope. Key supporting characters include Sally, Frank’s patient girlfriend, and Ann O'Dell, his ex-wife, who shares a painful history with him but also seeks a fresh start with her new husband, Charley. The depiction of their teenage son, Paul, further adds to the family's tension, as he grapples with his own demons and the impact of loss. Other notable figures include Irv, Frank’s long-lost stepbrother, whose unexpected arrival offers a moment of connection, and Claire Devane, a murdered real estate agent whose tragic fate resonates throughout the story. Together, these characters explore themes of loss, connection, and the search for meaning in a fragmented world.
Independence Day: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Richard Ford
First published: 1995
Genre: Novel
Locale: Haddam, New Jersey
Plot: Literary fiction
Time: Contemporary
Frank Bascombe, narrator, real estate agent. Frank is the quintessential, modern-day Prufrock who over-thinks and second-guesses all of his relationships, even those with his clients. His oldest son died of Reye's Syndrome. Early in the novel, Frank espouses the uselessness in trying to make a meaningful life, and lives in existential angst and isolation. He refers to his current, mid-life circumstances as his “existence period.” Through the course of events during his Fourth of July holiday, which he spends taking his son to the basketball and baseball halls of fame, Frank moves from emotional disengagement to emotional possibility; from a sense of uselessness to one of hope, however slim.
Sally, Frank's girlfriend. Sally is a 42-year-old, tall, “leggy,” blue-eyed blonde. She is patient and, though Ford doesn't describe her as such, it's easy to imagine her as soft-spoken. She is cautious, almost to a flaw, though she has good reason to be cautious with Frank, who is often an enigma, even to himself.
Ann O'Dell, Frank's ex-wife. With an air of resignation, Ann is disappointed with her marriage to Frank. She marries Charley O'Dell and moves with him and her children to Connecticut. Her forbearance of Frank's chronic existential angst suggests she still harbors a sense of kinship with him. After all, they share the loss of their son to Reye's Syndrome. Her second marriage to Charley O'Dell is also troubled.
Paul Bascombe, Frank and Ann's 15-year-old son. Not a sympathetic character, Paul is a troubled boy who seems to be on the verge of madness. He responds to stress by making odd “eeeck” noises in the back of his throat, and sometimes barking like a dog. He is deeply cynical and awkward, often speaking in cringe-worthy, mocking, double entendre. Perhaps displaying a classic case of psychological transference, Paul mourns the loss of the family's pet dog, Mr. Toby, who died in his arms, yet doesn't ever refer to the death of his older brother and the aftereffects that dissolved his family. He steps into the path of a 75-mile-an-hour baseball, severely injuring his eye, which helps bridge the wide gulf between his parents, if only temporarily.
Clarissa Bascombe, Frank and Ann's 12-year-old daughter. She's a precocious and energetic girl who just might be too wise for her years.
Charley O'Dell, Ann's second husband. A distinguished gentleman, Charley comes from a wealthy family and, according to Frank, has the mind of a “true Republican,” (which is not a positive distinction in Frank's world). A bit too perfect for Frank, Charley is an architect who has married Frank's ex-wife. He is big-boned and tall, with white hair. He is self-absorbed and is unsympathetic towards Ann's son, Paul.
Irv Ornstein, Frank's stepbrother. Irv is Frank's long-lost stepbrother whom he hasn't seen in years. He shows up late in the novel and out of the blue, at a point of real crisis for Frank, after Paul has been hit in the face by a 75-mile per hour pitch at the batting cage. Irv is a large man with a tan, long, “smooth-jawed Jewish face.” He has large dark eyes and wears glasses. Irv and Frank end up talking at length about the necessity of continuity in one's life. Ironically, the conversation seems to provide a sense of belonging, of continuity, for Frank, who has seen himself as a disconnected lone wolf.
Claire Devane, murdered real estate agent. A black woman, Claire had a short affair with Frank several years prior, but was engaged to be married when she was brutally raped and murdered in a vacant house she had intended to show to potential buyers.
Vonda Lusk, receptionist in Frank Bascombe's office. Vonda is a tall, “bulgy-busted,” blonde who wears too much makeup and comes to work in bright, ridiculously skimpy cocktail dresses. She was close friends with Claire Devane, and has taken it upon herself to ensure nobody from the office forgets Claire. She enjoys reading news magazines, and likes to discuss current affairs.
Phyllis Markham, a housewife; Frank's real-estate client. A rather morose and mousy, middle-aged woman, Phyllis has a plump, round face and copper hair. She tends to shrink from her husband's overbearing nature, though once in awhile, she launches a silent protest.
Joe Markham, a real-estate client. A wholly unappealing, acerbic man, Joe tends to bully those he interacts with, including his wife. He is stout and short-armed with a hairy back. He often espouses the futility of life.
Larry McLeod, Frank's renter. Larry is a middle-aged, former black militant with long, muscular arms who always seems to be angry, always on the verge of a violent rage. He is married to a younger white woman, and they have two children.
Ralph, Frank and Ann's deceased son. Ralph died from Reye's Syndrome when he was eleven years old.
Carter, Frank's old friend. Small and slender with black hair, Carter evinces a stark contrast to Frank. Carter is a successful, smart businessman for whom a little financial acumen has made a luxurious, easy life.