A Long and Happy Life: Analysis of Major Characters
"A Long and Happy Life" delves into the complex lives of its major characters, particularly focusing on Rosacoke Mustian, a young woman grappling with an unexpected pregnancy. At twenty years old, Rosacoke faces the pressures of impending motherhood while processing her friend Mildred Sutton's tragic death during childbirth. The story explores her relationship with Wesley Beavers, the father of her child, who offers marriage more from a sense of obligation than genuine affection. Rosacoke’s mother, Emma, serves as a significant influence, providing a model of resilience as a widow. Meanwhile, the narrative includes Rosacoke's older brother, Milo, whose own family struggles with loss, which further complicates her views on motherhood. The contrasting experiences of Sissie, Milo's wife, and the older community member, Isaac Alston, enrich the exploration of familial expectations and societal pressures. The characters collectively navigate the themes of love, duty, and the challenges of personal choice within a tight-knit community.
A Long and Happy Life: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Reynolds Price
First published: 1962
Genre: Novel
Locale: A rural North Carolina community
Plot: Domestic realism
Time: 1957
Rosacoke Mustian, a woman about twenty years old who must make important decisions when she discovers that she is pregnant. The father of the child, Wesley Beavers, has offered to marry her, but she fears the very thought of childbirth because her friend, Mildred Sutton, died during the birth of her child Sledge. Rosacoke's participation in the church Christmas pageant as the Virgin Mary reassures her and gives her the strength to determine her future. She decides to marry Wesley.
Wesley Beavers, Rosacoke's boyfriend and the father of the child she is carrying. Wesley, who is twenty-four years old, has been seeing Rosacoke for three years, all the while sleeping with other women. It is not until he learns of her pregnancy that he decides to settle down and marry her, more out of a sense of honor than because he loves her.
Emma Mustian, Rosacoke's mother. A widow who has survived many ordeals, she serves as a role model for her daughter.
Milo Mustian, Rosacoke's older brother. The death of Milo's son Horatio Mustian II also gives Rosacoke pause when she contemplates motherhood.
Sissie Mustian, Milo's wife. As the mother of four children who is carrying her fifth, Horatio Mustian II, she offers a model of what Rosacoke might expect if she marries Wesley.
Horatio (Rato) Mustian, Rosacoke's younger brother, a private in the Army. Like his deceased father, he appears to have little religion and few morals. He goes home shortly before Christmas to relate his experiences in the military. While in the Army, he forgets how to pray.
Mildred Sutton, Rosacoke's African American friend. Like Rosacoke, she became pregnant out of wedlock. She died giving birth to her son Sledge before the opening of the novel.
Sledge Sutton, Mildred's child, the son of Sammy Ransom.
Isaac Alston, the oldest member of the community.
Horatio Mustian II, Milo's child, who dies.