Men and Angels: Analysis of Major Characters
"Men and Angels: Analysis of Major Characters" delves into the intricate relationships and personal struggles of its main characters, set against the backdrop of family dynamics and the pursuit of love and understanding. At the heart of the narrative is Laura Post, a troubled young nanny whose quest for affection is marred by a painful childhood and a skewed perception of divine love. In contrast, Anne Foster embodies a nurturing yet intellectually ambitious mother, grappling with her own insecurities stemming from familial favoritism. The characters around her, including the elderly Jane Watson, who seeks redemption for past mistakes, and Michael Foster, a devoted husband and father, add depth to the exploration of familial love and sacrifice. Further complicating matters is Hélène, a self-serving academic figure whose antagonism toward Anne contrasts sharply with the supportive mentorship of Benedict Hardy. The interactions among these characters highlight themes of love, forgiveness, and the quest for personal fulfillment, inviting readers to reflect on the complexities of human relationships and the impact of one's past on their present. This analysis provides a rich tapestry of character dynamics, making it a compelling study for those interested in the interplay of personal and familial struggles.
Men and Angels: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Mary Gordon
First published: 1985
Genre: Novel
Locale: Selby, a small college town in Massachusetts
Plot: Family
Time: The 1980's
Laura Post, the dangerously neurotic twenty-two-year-old nanny to the two Foster children. Born to a mother who disliked her from her birth, Laura has spent her short life seeking love. Her mother's withering contempt for Laura and undisguised pleasure in Laura's sister have left Laura emotionally crippled, unable to recognize love or to give it. In her late adolescence, Laura turned to religion and came to believe that she had been visited by the Holy Spirit. She now believes that the Spirit directs her every move and that it has sent her to the house of Anne Foster. In her constant Bible reading, Laura sees God only as a power of wrath and destruction.
Anne Foster, who in her late thirties is a deeply loving mother to her two children and is deeply in love with her husband. She also is driven by her desire to use her intellect and her knowledge of art history. While her husband spends an academic term in France, Anne works at preparing a catalog for a major showing of the paintings of Caroline Watson. The project requires her to hire a live-in baby-sitter. She employs Laura even though she dislikes her (and dislikes herself for feeling that dislike). Like Laura, Anne was born to a mother who preferred her sister, but with the aid of her father's love she has emerged as a joyous, loving woman whose lack of self-confidence is masked by her strong intelligence. Anne is interested in the career of Caroline Watson (a fictional painter modeled somewhat on Mary Cassatt) partly because she likes Watson's paintings but also as a result of her feminist sympathies.
Jane Watson, a medievalist in her seventies, the beloved daughter-in-law of the long-dead painter Carolyn Watson. She now possesses her mother-in-law's letters and diaries, materials that Anne needs to see in order to prepare the catalog. Although Jane can be a dragon, she immediately recognizes the intelligent sensitivity Anne brings to the catalog project. Jane was married to Carolyn's ineffectual son Stephen, but she and Carolyn callously disregarded his needs as they indulged their friendship. Long after Stephen's death, Jane's remorse made her seek forgiveness in Christianity. Jane says of Laura that she has missed the central message of the Gospels—the immensity of God's love for humans.
Michael Foster, Anne's husband, a scholar of nineteenth century French literature. He and Anne had planned to spend his academic leave together in France with their children, but he saw that she longed to accept the catalog assignment and did not want her to miss that opportunity. He loves his wife and children deeply.
Benedict (Ben) Hardy, a London gallery owner who is Jane's lover and Anne's longtime mentor. Years ago, Ben introduced Anne to serious study of art history. He helped get her the assignment of writing the Watson catalog and introduced her to Jane. He is a favorite of Sarah and Peter, the Foster children.
Hélène, Michael's friend and academic mentor. She is self-serving and self-centered. She dislikes Anne and constantly finds ways to belittle her. While Michael is in France, she maliciously suggests to Anne that he has taken on a lover there. It is she who introduces Laura to Anne.
Ed Corcoran, an electrician who is rewiring Anne's house. Anne is drawn to this man, who loves his son the way she loves hers and who treats his difficult brain-damaged wife with care and respect.