The Lovely Bones: Analysis of Major Characters
"The Lovely Bones" explores the profound impact of a young girl's murder on her family and friends through the eyes of Susie Salmon, a 14-year-old victim who narrates the story from her personal heaven. As Susie observes her family's grief, she learns to navigate her own sense of loss and the desire to connect with her loved ones. Major characters include Lindsey Salmon, Susie's brave younger sister, who grapples with feelings of protectiveness and guilt while becoming a therapist; and Jack Salmon, Susie's father, who obsessively seeks justice for his daughter while trying to support his family. Abigail Salmon, Susie's mother, battles her guilt and emotional turmoil, leading her to briefly leave her family before returning with newfound hope. Other notable characters include Ruth Connors, a classmate who becomes an advocate for the deceased after being touched by Susie's spirit, and Ray Singh, Susie's friend who ultimately finds a deeper understanding of love and death through his connection with Susie. The narrative also features George Harvey, the murderer whose hidden darkness contrasts with the pain he inflicts. Through these characters, "The Lovely Bones" delves into themes of loss, family dynamics, and the search for closure.
The Lovely Bones: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Alice Sebold
First published: 2002
Genre: Novel
Locale: Norristown, Pennsylvania; Heaven
Plot: Psychological fiction
Time: 1970s-80s
Susie Salmon, a fourteen-year-old girl who is raped, murdered, and dismembered by a serial killer. Susie narrates the novel's events posthumously from her personal heaven. She observes the impact of her murder, both sympathizing with her family's pain and mourning her own lost opportunities. She seeks ways to make contact with her loved ones, including the boy with whom she had recently shared her first kiss. Eventually, Susie learns that she must let go of life on earth so her family can move on.
Lindsey Salmon, Susie's slightly younger sister. A gifted student, Lindsey puts on a brave face about Susie's death but secretly she misses her sister more than she can express and fantasizes about saving her. Lindsey is very protective of her younger brother, Buckley, whose emotional needs are not being met by their parents after Susie's death. Believing her father's assertion that their neighbor, George Harvey, is the murderer, Lindsey breaks into his house and retrieves a critical piece of evidence. Lindsey eventually becomes a therapist and marries her first boyfriend, Samuel; they name their first child Abigail Suzanne in memory of Susie.
Ruth Connors, one of Susie's classmates. A talented and intelligent loner, Ruth directly encounters Susie only once while the latter was still alive, but Susie's soul touches Ruth on its way to heaven and Ruth is never the same again. She discovers a talent for sensing the locations where girls and women have been murdered; when she returns to her hometown as an adult, this sensitivity causes an out-of-body experience that allows Susie to inhabit Ruth's body for a few precious hours. Ruth returns from this occurrence more determined than ever to act as an advocate for the dead.
Ray Singh, the boy with whom Susie was just beginning to form a friendship and perhaps something more. Because he had written her a love note, Ray is initially considered a suspect in her murder but is quickly cleared. He forms an unlikely friendship with Ruth due to their mutual sorrow over Susie's death. Years later, Ray is with Ruth when she has her out-of-body experience, and he quickly understands that Susie has temporarily taken Ruth's place. Susie and Ray are finally able to consummate their love, and the experience shapes Ray's future life as a doctor since he must now acknowledge that death encompasses mysteries not explained by science and medicine.
Jack Salmon, Susie's father. Stunned by Susie's death, Jack instinctively recognizes their neighbor, George Harvey, as his daughter's killer. Jack becomes obsessed with watching Harvey even though the police cannot link him to the crime until Lindsey discovers the evidence in his house almost a full year later. Once Jack's suspicion has been vindicated, he is slightly better able to support Lindsey and Buckley, understanding better than his wife does that they need to be able to talk about Susie.
Abigail Salmon, Susie's mother. Abigail believes that Susie's death is her punishment for not having wanted to have children in the first place. She is impatient with her husband's suspicions about George Harvey and with anyone's attempts to honor and remember Susie. She finds her only comfort in a brief extramarital affair with the case's lead investigator. She abandons her family for several years rather than deal directly with her guilt and pain but eventually returns, recognizing that a life is still possible even if it is not the one she expected to have.
Buckley Salmon, Susie's preschool-aged brother, who initially is too young to understand her disappearance and death. Buckley easily accepts that Susie often watches over and talks to him even if he cannot see her, and he is able to remember Susie with more joy than the rest of the family can because he does not immediately know what he has lost.
George Harvey, Susie's murderer and neighbor. Mr. Harvey is considered odd but harmless, which is a façade he has carefully cultivated over many years. He keeps small mementos from his victims but knows how to hide evidence and answer questions from the police. Although he does not seem to care about the pain he has caused so many people, Susie can see from observing his past that he actually tries to stop himself from killing people, until the compulsion eventually overwhelms him.
Grandma Lynn, Abigail's mother. A colorful woman who drinks too much, Lynn tries hard to bring her daughter's family back to life after their loss. During the more than five years that Abigail is gone from the house, Lynn moves in to take care of Lindsey and Buckley and encourage them when needed so that they will live their lives. Lynn's actions make Susie love and admire her grandmother far more than she had the chance to do while alive.
Samuel Heckler, Lindsey's first love and eventual husband. Samuel and Lindsey begin dating shortly after Susie's death, and their love grows because he is so steady in his support and because he sees Lindsey as her own person, rather than the sister of the dead girl.
Franny, Susie's intake counselor in her version of heaven. Franny senses when Susie is ready to experience a new aspect of her heaven, such as meeting Harvey's other victims.
Len Fenerman, the police officer in charge of investigating Susie's murder. He falls in love with and carries on a brief affair with Abigail, recognizing in her the same emptiness he has felt since his own wife's suicide.